The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for October was 5.3 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.4 percent in September. The rate in October 2014 was 6.0 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs. The number of jobs in Athens increased by 700, or 0.8 percent, in October to 94,600. The job gains came mostly in state and local government, retail trade, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.    

Over the year, Athens gained 1,200 jobs, a growth rate of 1.3 percent, from 93,400 in October 2014. Most of the job growth came in state government, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and retail trade.

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by six, or 1.5 percent, to 415 in October. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 61, or 12.8 percent, from 476 in October 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.3 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for October was 5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent in September. It was 6.8 percent in October 2014.