ATLANTA (AP) — State labor officials say metro Atlanta's unemployment rate dropped to 8.6 percent in July.

That's down two-tenths of a percentage point from 8.8 percent in June. It was also below the jobless rate of 9.3 percent in July a year ago.

The new number was released early Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.

State officials say the rate dropped as 15,945 more people became employed in metro Atlanta in July than in June.