Northwest Georgia's unemployment rate is dropping. The rate fell from 9 point 7 percent in July to 9 point 4 percent in August. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, rates fell because there were 2,900 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction and other types of work. That brought about a nice drop in unemployment for Chattooga County which went from 11.5 to 10.8 percent. Walker County's rate edged up from July to August, climbing from 7.9 to 8.1 percent. Most encouraging is the fact that Metro Dalton no longer has the state's highest unemployment. Dalton has held that dubious distinction for the past 3 years.