GDOL shares job growth data for October

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced earlier this week that Georgia broke the 4.5-million jobs barrier in October, bouncing back from a job loss due to Hurricane Irma in September.

The state posted 4,510,100 jobs for the month.

The preliminary number is higher than Georgia’s previous record of 4,497,700 set in August.

In September, Georgia had a temporary setback with a job loss of 3,400.

Georgia also set records in October for labor force and the number of employed residents.

Monthly numbers can fluctuate due to short-term impacts like Irma and are subject to revisions.

The story built over the year, Butler said, gives a clearer picture of the state’s economy and jobs picture because it smooths out short-term shifts seen in monthly reports.

Over the past 12 months, Georgia has added 87,800 jobs, a 2 percent growth.

The state is outpacing the national job growth rate of 1.4 percent.

In October Georgia posted 15,800 new jobs.

Growth came mostly in private sector including, construction, 5,500 and professional and business services, 5,200.

Georgia’s over-the-year job growth came mostly in the private sector.

Jobs were added in professional and business services, amassing 24,900; education and health services by 15,300; and trade, transportation and warehousing by 11,700.

Butler added that the unemployment rate continues to fall.

The unemployment rate in October was 4.3 percent, down from September’s revised number of 4.4 percent.

The compares favorably to last October when the rate was 5.4 percent.

For more information, visit dol.georgia.gov.