ATLANTA (AP) - State labor officials say Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has declined for the ninth consecutive month.

Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Georgia's April jobless rate of 8.9 percent marks the first time in more than three years the rate has dropped below nine percent.

The state's unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in April a year ago.

The last time Georgia's jobless rate was below nine percent was in February of 2009, when it was also 8.9 percent.