State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said that the number of jobs in metro Valdosta grew in October.

The area preliminarily posted 57,100 jobs in October, up by 400. The job growth came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction and the private sector, which includes trade, transportation and warehousing. From last October, jobs are up by 200 from 56,900.

While the total number of employed residents declined slightly in October to 62,575, there are 1,355 more Valdosta residents employed now than last October when the total was 61,220.

“Metro Valdosta is a growing job market and is producing some strong economic numbers,” Butler said. “This is a continuation of a good year for metro Valdosta.”  

The October unemployment rate, at 4.3 percent, was up from 4.2 percent in September. The rate rose as the number of unemployed residents increased by 49 to 2,783. Still, the October rate compares favorably to last October when the rate was 5.3 percent.

Unemployment claims were up by 0.3 percent to 293. Claims were up in arts, entertainment and recreation. Over the year, claims were down by 5.8 percent from 311 in October 2016.

“While claims are up for the month, they remain lower than they were at this time last year,” Butler noted. “The trend is headed in the right direction. That’s always going to be more important than any single month.”