The Athens-area unemployment rate fell to 5.6 percent in August, a drop from 6.3 percent in July, according to a report released today by the Georgia Department of Labor. Unemployment was at 7.1 percent in August 2014. The report shows Athens has gained 1,800 jobs this year, mostly from local and state government. This drop in unemployment is caused as employers created more jobs and layoffs decreased.

Check out how the Athens area unemployment rates compare to the Georgia unemployment rates.