Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Columbus posted a strong October with gains in jobs, labor force and employed residents.
 
All indicators were positive for the year as well for the five-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
 
“It’s always good to see jobs grow in Georgia,” Butler said. “This holiday season we have much to be thankful for. The job market has been very robust this year.”
 
The unemployment rate for October, at 4.3 percent, was down .3 percent over the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 5 percent. That rate was 11th lowest among the 14 MSAs. The rate climbed in all 14 MSAs in October.
 
The labor force in Columbus grew by 729 in October to reach 126,444. That number is up by 1,409 over the past year – an average monthly increase of about 120.
 
Columbus gained 272 employed residents in October, pushing the total to 121,016. The number is up 2,271 for the year, or nearly 190 per month.
 
Jobs increased by 900 in October at 124,100. Columbus’s job total is up 2,000 over the year – an average monthly increase of about 165.
 
Claims for unemployment insurance were down by 3 percent in October. They were down by 10 percent when compared to the same month a year ago.