Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Savannah increased their labor force and added jobs in October.
 
The three-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also keeps their initial claims positive for the year.  
 
“This holiday season we have much to be thankful for,” Butler said. “The job market has been very robust this year. Our communities continue to grow and prosper.”
 
The October unemployment rate rose to 3.5 percent. That’s up 0.4 percent from the previous month but down from 4.1 percent one year ago.  
 
The labor force increased in October by 191 to reach 184,571 total members.  The number has dropped by 1,277 over the past 12 months.
 
Savannah lost 519 employed residents in October, bringing its total to 178,146. That number is down 51 for the year.  
 
Savannah saw jobs grow by 700 in October, bringing the total to 179,300, which is down 300 over the year.
 
Initial claims for unemployment are up by about 12 percent for the month and are down by 47 percent when compared to the same period a year ago.