Special to The Post-Searchlight

The preliminary unemployment rate for Decatur County dropped slightly in October 2011, according to figures released recently by the Georgia Department of Labor.

The county’s unemployment fell to 12.7 percent, from its 13.3 percent in September. In October 2010, the Decatur County unemployment rate was 11.8 percent.

The number of employed people in Decatur County increased by 218 in October, while the local workforce increased by 171 people.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 10.2 percent in October, down slightly from 10.3 percent in September.