Paulding County’s September unemployment decreased to 8.0 percent, far below both Metro Atlanta and the statewide rates, the Georgia Department of Labor reported.

The county’s unemployment rate declined by 0.3 of a percent from 8.3 percent in August, said state labor market analyst Corey Smith.

“The rate is at its lowest since it was 7.9 percent in April and has now declined by 0.7 percentage points over the last two months,” Smith stated in an e-mail.

Industries including Construction, Retail Trade, and Professional and Technical Services saw the largest decline in claims for unemployment benefits from Paulding residents, Smith said.

Initial claims for jobless benefits were down 137 over the month, from 565 filings in August to 428 in September, Smith stated.

A total of 855 more Paulding residents were listed as employed — from 66,846 to 67,701, Smith said. The number of residents listed as unemployed dropped by 149, from 6,024 in August to 5,875 in September.

In September 2011, the unemployment rate in Paulding was 9.3 percent and 549 initial claims for jobless benefits were filed.

Neighboring counties’ September rates ranged from Cobb at 7.7 percent to Polk, 8.4 percent; Douglas, 8.6 percent; Bartow, 8.8 percent; and Carroll and Haralson, 8.9 percent each.

The unemployment rate for Metro Atlanta — defined as 28 counties surrounding the city of Atlanta — dropped from 8.8 percent in August to 8.4 percent in September. The rate was 9.7 percent in September 2011.

Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped from 9.2 percent in August to 9.0 percent in September. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in September 2011.

The nationwide unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in September.