LaGrange’s unemployment rate dropped from a revised 14.7 percent in September to a preliminary 13.7 percent in October, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

Troup County’s rate dropped from 13.0 percent to 12.6 percent during the month.

It increased from 12.3 percent to 12.4 percent in Heard County and from 13.1 percent to 13.9 percent in Meriwether County.

The state’s jobless rate increased from 10.1 percent in September to 10.2 percent in October. Georgia has exceeded the national rate since October 2007 when it recorded 4.8 percent.

In October 2008, the rates were 10.1 percent in LaGrange, 8.9 percent in Troup and 6.9 percent in Georgia.

Georgia had 3,858,800 payroll jobs in October, a decrease of 227,700 from the same month a year ago. The losses came in manufacturing, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and professional and business services.

Education and health services added 13,200 jobs over the year.

Labor market data is available at dol.state.ga.us.