By ERRIN HAINES
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's unemployment rate has dropped for eight straight months, and the state's labor commissioner says that's a sign more Georgians are getting back to work.
The Georgia Department of Labor reports the state's unemployment rate for March was 9%, compared to 9.8% in March 2011. The figure is the lowest since February 2009, when unemployment in the state was 8.9%.
Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says Georgia companies are feeling more optimistic about the future and more Georgians are looking for and finding employment.
The state's long-term unemployed number also declined to 239,200 - the lowest since September 2010.
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