Stephens Co. Unemployment Down in October

Stephens County receives some good news on the employment front for October.

According to October employment figures released this week by the Georgia Department of Labor, Stephens County had a preliminary October unemployment rate of 6.5 percent.

That is down from the revised September rate of 6.7 percent and also lower than the revised rate for October 2013 of 7.6 percent.

In addition to the lower unemployment rate, both the labor force and the number of people employed in Stephens County rose in October compared to both this past September and October 2013.

State Labor Department figures put Stephens County’s October labor force at 13,029, compared to 13,008 in September and 12,846 in October 2013.

Meanwhile, the number of employed in Stephens County in October was 12,177, compared to 12,139 in September and 11,876 in October.

Looking elsewhere around the area, Franklin, Habersham, and Banks counties also saw their unemployment rates go down in October.

According to the Labor Department, Franklin County had a preliminary October unemployment rate of 7.5 percent, while Habersham County was 6.4 percent and Banks County came in at 5.4 percent.