Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Savannah added more jobs in October.
 
According to preliminary data, Savannah also added to its labor force and employed residents across the three-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.
 
Savannah’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percentage points in October, reaching 2.9 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.5 percent.
 
Savannah ended October with 186,000 jobs. Jobs increased by 1,500 over the month and increased by 1,400 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force increased in October by 990. The total is 187,565. That number is down by 667 when compared to the same time last year.
 
Savannah ended October with 182,079 employed residents.  That number increased by 1,013 over the month and is up by 486 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims decreased in October by about 8 percent. When compared to last October, claims were up by about 11 percent.
 
The MSA includes Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties