Newton County's unemployment rate declined to 9.5 percent in October, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 9.6 percent in September, according to preliminary numbers released by the Georgia Department of Labor recently. The rate was 11.5 percent in October 2011.
In the Northeast Georgia region, the preliminary unemployment rate declined to 7.6 percent in October, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.7 percent in September. The rate was 9.1 percent in October 2011.

The rate declined because there were 2,666 more people employed in the Northeast Georgia region. There were 276,523 employed people in October, up from 273,857 in September, and by 9,340 from 267,183 in October 2011.

The unemployment rate in metro Atlanta declined to 8.2 percent in October, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.3 percent in September. The rate was 9.4 percent in October 2011.

The rate declined because of an increase of 19,500 new jobs in metro Atlanta. There were 2,353,500 jobs in October, up eight-tenths of a percentage point, from 2,334,000 in September.

The growth came in retail trade, up 5,900; professional, scientific, and technical services, up 2,800; education and health care, up 2,600; accommodations and food services, up 2,200; local government, up 2,200; technology, 1,400; construction, 1,200; and financial services, 800. In one year's time, jobs were up in metro Atlanta by 33,700, or 1.5 percent, from 2,319,800 in October 2011.

Metro Athens continued to have the lowest area jobless rate at 6.2 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.7 percent in October, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.0 percent in September.

The jobless rate was 9.7 percent in October a year ago.

Statewide, there were 3,971,700 jobs in October, up 36,000, or nine-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,935,700 in September. Over the year, Georgia gained 68,000 jobs, or 1.7 percent, from 3,903,700 in October 2011.