ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 8.4 percent in March, the lowest rate since December 2008.

That is down from 8.6 percent in February, and 9.1 percent in March a year ago.

The new numbers were released Thursday morning by the Georgia Department of Labor.

State labor officials say the rate declined because of an increase in the number of jobs and fewer new layoffs.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Georgia employers created 23,700 jobs last month, which he called one of the best job growth numbers for March in nearly a decade.

He said the gains came in several industries, led by leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.