Metro Atlanta jobless rate dips to 8.9 percent | News

ATLANTA -- Metro Atlanta's preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 8.9 percent in August, down from 9.2 percent in July.

In Cobb County, the unemployment rate was lower -- 8.1 percent in August.

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Labor officials say the metro area's decrease was due to 1,547 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, administrative and support services, educational services, and health care and social assistance.

The metro labor force also declined by 23,505, partly because some students left summer jobs to return to school.