Vermont’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.4 percent in October, ending a series of monthly increases.
The October rate is the same as it was one year ago. In the past 12 months, unemployment fell as low as 3.3 percent (in April and May, 2014) before climbing to its current level.
Despite the same unemployment rate as October, 2013, the number of those with jobs or looking for work has increased over the past year. The increase in the labor force, combined with the steady unemployment rate is an indication that jobs are being created.
In a statement accompanying the new figures, Vermont Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan says, “based on the preliminary October data, in the past year, the Vermont economy has added 1,000 manufacturing jobs, 1,300 jobs in private education and 400 jobs in professional and technical services.”
Newport and Bennington had the highest unemployment rates. Woodstock recorded the lowest jobless number.
