ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Department of Labor officials say the state's unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent in October.

Officials said Thursday that the October rate is down from 8.3 percent in September, and has dropped from 8.8 percent in October of 2012.

Department Commissioner Mark Butler says he's encouraged by the rate, which has dropped from 8.7 percent since August. In a statement, Butler said Georgia has gained about 30,000 new jobs in the past month in various industries.

Butler says the number of jobs in the state rose to more than 4,078,000 in October, which is the largest number since November 2008.

Officials say most job increases were noted in the trade and transportation industry, followed by the education field and the health and services sector.