Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Rome added to its labor force in October.
 
According to preliminary data, Rome also added jobs and employed residents across the one-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
 
“In October we had eight local communities set a total of 13 new records,” Butler said. “We increased jobs, employment and added to our labor force in virtually all of our major markets.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate climbed in October to 3.6 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage points. The nation also grew its labor force by 325,000, increased employment by 241,000 and added more 125,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate, meanwhile, fell in October by 0.1 percentage points to 3.4 percent. That tied Georgia’s all-time low set in December of 2000.
 
Rates fell or held steady across all 11 of Georgia’s 14 MSAs. Four set a record for lowest rate ever.
 
In Rome, the unemployment rate remained unchanged, staying at 3.3 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.2 percent.
 
Rome ended October with 42,800 jobs. That number increased by 300 over the month and increased by 1,000 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force increased in October by 312. The total was 44,686. That number is up by 472 from the total from October 2018.
 
Rome ended October with 43,218 employed residents.  That number increased by 308 over the month and increased by 854 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims decreased by about 36 percent in October. When compared to last October, claims were down by about 52 percent.
 
The metropolitan statistical area includes just Floyd County.