Georgia jobless rate falls to 8.7 percent in October

photo John Gooch files for unemployment at the Georgia Department of Labor office in Dalton, Ga.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.7 percent in October, down from 9 percent in September.

The jobless rate was 9.7 percent in October a year ago.

"The unemployment rate dropped because we had an increase of 36,000 new jobs, which is the largest September to October job increase ever," said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. "That job growth pushed the number of jobs in October to the highest level in any month since December of 2008."

The growth came in retail trade, up 8,000 jobs; education and health care, up 7,000; professional and business services, up 6,000; state and local public schools, up 5,000; leisure and hospitality, up 3,000; technology, up 2,400; construction, up 1,700; financial services, up 900; and manufacturing, up 700.

"While manufacturing gained 700 jobs during the month, it's more important to note that the industry has gained 10,500 jobs in the last year," Butler added.

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