by Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Georgia’s unemployment rate was 3.6% last month for the third month in a row, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.
The state’s labor force rose by 1,370 in October to a record-high 5.4 million, while the number of employed Georgians increased slightly to another all-time high of 5.2 million.
“While job growth has slowed nationwide, Georgia continues to drive job creation and workforce participation,” state Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson said Thursday. “This stability shows what’s possible with a state government that puts hardworking Georgians first.”
The number of jobs also went up last month by 1,500 to nearly 5 million.
Job sectors showing the most over-the-month gains were accommodation and food services, which gained 4,300 jobs, and health care and social assistance, posting a jobs gain of 2,200.
On the down side, the administrative and support services sector lost 3,700 jobs in October, while transportation and warehousing was down 1,400 jobs, and the information sector – which includes the motion picture and sound recording industries – lost 1,300 jobs.
Initial unemployment claims were up by 9,042 last month to 28,642.
