Metro Gainesville’s unemployment rate for October was 4.7 percent, which was unchanged from September, according to figures released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor. The rate in October 2014 was 5.5 percent.

Metro Gainesville includes all of Hall County.

While the rate was unchanged, employers in metro Gainesville created more jobs and laid off fewer workers, as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance. The number of jobs increased by 600, or 0.7 percent, in October to 82,900.

The job gains came mostly in the service-related industries, such as trade, transportation and warehousing, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.    

Over the year, metro Gainesville gained 1,200 jobs, a growth rate of 1.5 percent, from 81,700 in October 2014. Most of the job growth came in the service-related industries and the goods-producing sector.

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 205, or 29.7 percent, to 486 in October. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 69, or 12.4 percent, from 555 in October 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate in the state at 4.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for October was 5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent in September. It was 6.8 percent in October 2014.