The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Macon’s unemployment rate for September was 7.8 percent, down seven-tenths of a percentage point from 8.5 percent in August. The rate in September of last year was 8.2 percent. 

The rate dropped because there were 884 fewer unemployed people in the Macon area in September, according to the federal government’s monthly household survey.  

While the rate decreased, Metro Macon lost 300 jobs in September, as the total number of jobs dropped to 99,000 from 99,300 in August. The losses came mostly in leisure and hospitality. Jobs were unchanged over the year.  

Also, there were 835 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in September, an increase of 53, or 6.8 percent, from 782 in August. Most of the increase in claims came in manufacturing, professional and technical services, and accommodations and food services. Over the year, claims were down 6.4 percent from the 892 filed in September 2013.    

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.5 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 7.9 percent, down from 8.1 percent in August. It was 8.0 percent in September 2013.