Newton County's unemployment dropped slightly from October to November, according to a preliminary report released by the Georgia Department of Labor today.

The county's November unemployment rate is 9.4 percent down from October's 9.5 percent. In Nov. 2011, the jobless rate in the county was 10.7 percent.

The preliminary unemployment rate in the Northeast Georgia region, which Newton County is a part of, declined to 7.5 percent in November, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.6 percent in October. The rate was 8.5 percent in November 2011.

The rate declined because of fewer new layoffs, represented by first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits. There were 291 fewer layoffs in construction, trade, information services, financial services, professional and technical services, administrative and support services, educational services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.2 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11 percent.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta declined to 8.0 percent in November, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 8.2 percent in October. The rate was 8.9 percent in November 2011.

The rate declined because of job growth and fewer new layoffs, represented by first time claims for unemployment insurance benefits.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.5 percent in November, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 8.7 percent in October. The rate was 9.5 percent in November a year ago.

Statewide, there were 3,984,000 jobs in November, up 9,600, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,974,400 in October. Over the year, Georgia gained 61,900 jobs, or 1.6 percent, from 3,922,100 in November 2011.