(AP) -- The Georgia Department of Labor says metro Atlanta's unemployment rate rose to 10.5 percent last month, up two-tenths of 1 percent from August. 

Labor ommissioner Michael Thurmond says the number of unemployed workers in the area increased by 2,407, from 275,375 in August to 277,782 in September.

Elsewhere, Thurmond says unemployment rose from 10 percent to 10.3 percent in the Albany area, and remained unchanged at 7.2 percent in Athens.  The Augusta area's rate fell from 9.5 percent to 9.4 although the number of unemployed increased.  The rate in Columbus rose from 9.5 to 9.6 percent, and Macon's rate increased from 9.8 percent to 9.9 percent.

Statewide, the number of payroll jobs fell by 237,000 last month.

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