Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Macon grew the labor force and added jobs in October.
 
All major indicators still remain 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 4.1 percent. That’s up 0.6 percent from the previous month and down from 5 percent one year ago.
 
The labor force increased in October by 388 to reach 105,430 total members.  The number has increased by 18 over the past 12 months.
 
Macon lost 287 employed residents in October, bringing its total to 101,080. That number has grown by 956 over the past year.
 
Macon saw jobs increase by 300 in October to reach 103,800. This puts Macon up 1,000 jobs for the year.
 
Initial claims for unemployment are up by 74 percent for the month and are down by about 25 percent when compared to the same period a year ago.