By Doug Walker

Associate Editor

DWalker@RN-T.com

Rome gained some 200 jobs from September to October, certainly an indication of at least a modest uptick in the economy. Rome has also registered a net gain of 900 jobs since the local employment picture bottomed out in January.

The darker cloud, however, indicates the local job market has lost 1,000 jobs over the past year. The Department of Labor says the number of jobs in Floyd County was down 2.5 percent from October 2008 to last month.

Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond reported Thursday that there were 39,600 jobs in the Floyd County area in October. That was down from 40,600 in October a year ago.

“Naturally we are disappointed and saddened by the people that have lost jobs, mostly due to external factors, the economy,” said Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Al Hodge. “We are encouraged that some of our manufacturers are going back to full production and indications that other companies are planning expansions.” Hodge also said visits from industrial prospects had been picking up in recent months.

The Department of Labor reported most of the over-the-year losses came in manufacturing wholesale and retail trade professional and business services as well as construction.

Georgia officials say the state’s unemployment rate has risen slightly and now stands at 10.2 percent.

Floyd County’s unemployment rate was 11.1 percent in both August and September.

The October figures are scheduled to be released next week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click here to visit the Georgia Department of Labor Web site.