The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the two-county Dalton Metropolitan Statistical Area saw an increase in employment in July, while the unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point over the month to 3.6%. A year ago, the rate was 5.9%.

The labor force in Dalton was down by 60 over the month and ended July at 65,623. That number increased by 225 compared to the same time last year.

Dalton finished the month with 63,270 employed residents, an increase of 45 over the month and 1,700 from the same time a year ago.

Dalton ended July with 65,900 jobs. That number was down by 500 over the month and increased by 800 from the previous year.

In July, initial unemployment claims increased by 182 over the month and decreased by 1,430 from the same month a year ago, totaling 751.