ALBANY, GA -- The Georgia Department of Labor announced a decline in the jobless rate for both Southwest Georgia and the Albany-Metro area.

Southwest Georgia's numbers declined from 9.8% in July, down to 9.5% in August. The amount of actual jobs in the region rose from 3,914,100 to 3,939,200 and these numbers are in comparison to August of 2011 in which the jobless rate stood at 10.2%.

For the Albany-Metro area, locals saw a decrease from 10.3% in July, to 9.9% in August, compared to last year in which the jobless rate stood at 10.8%.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Labor say although these jumps aren't huge in number, they're still relieved to see the drop in percentage.