ATLANTA — Area jobless rates fell in September, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

In metro Savannah, the preliminary unemployment rate declined to 8.0 percent in September, down 0.6 percent from a revised 8.6 percent in August. The rate was 9.2 percent in September 2011.

According to the labor department, the rate declined primarily because there were 325 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support services, educational services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services, plus 2,137 more people were employed.

In Coastal Georgia, the rate dropped to 8.6 percent in September, down 0.4 percent from a revised 9.0 percent in August. The rate was 9.8 percent in September 2011.

That rate declined primarily because of 398 fewer layoffs in construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services, plus 2,582 more people were employed.