LaGrange’s unemployment rate dropped from a revised 14.9 percent in August to a preliminary 14.4 percent in September, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

LaGrange continued to have the second worst rate among the 30 cities in Georgia with a population of 10,000 or more. Lawrenceville had a 16 percent rate in September.

Troup County’s rate declined from 13.1 percent to 12.9 percent during the month. In Heard County, the rate increased from 12.3 percent to 12.4 percent and in Meriwether County it declined 13.0 percent to 13.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 10.1 percent from August to September. It was above the national rate of 9.8 percent for the 23rd consecutive month. The number of payroll jobs in September was 3,844,400, a decrease of 237,100, or 5.8 percent, from September 2008.

The losses came in manufacturing, trade, construction and administrative support services, including temporary employment services. Educational and health services added 13,700 jobs over the year.

Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond urged employers and job seekers to take advantage of the Georgia Work$ initiative. For more information about the GW$ hiring strategy, visit www.dol.state. ga.us or email inquiries to gawork$@dol.state.ga.us. Telephone operators are available at 877-967-5709 toll-free.

Georgia labor market data is available at www.dol.state.ga.us