Mark Butler, Georgia’s Labor Commissioner, has reported that Rome added to its labor force in October. Preliminary data from the state Department of Labor reveals that the one-county metropolitan statistical area (or MSA) also added jobs and employed residents.
Rome’s unemployment rate remained unchanged from September to October at 3.3 percent, down from 4.2 percent in October 2018.
Butler indicates that while the unemployment rate stayed the same over the month, more jobseekers entered the workforce and were able to find gainful employment.
The labor force rose to 44,686 total in October. Rome ended the month with a total of 43,218 employed residents.
Butler was additionally encouraged by an uptick in jobs and a decrease in the number of initial unemployment insurance claims.
Jobs increased by 300 over the month and 1,000 over the year to total 42,800 in October.
First-time claims for unemployment insurance declined in Rome by about 36 percent over the month and by about 52 percent over the year.
Georgia’s unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in October to tie the all-time low initially set back in December 2000.
The national unemployment rate rose in October to 3.6 percent, an increase from 3.5 percent in September.
Connect with the Georgia Department of Labor online for more labor market data and information about services for job seekers at www.dol.georgia.gov.