First time unemployment claims filed by Floyd County citizens jumped by 20.5 percent from September to October, but were down 15.5 percent as compared to October of a year ago.

The Department of Labor reported that 763 Floyd residents filed for jobless benefits in October, up from 633 in September but down from the 903 that were filed in October of 2011.

A first time claim is filed by someone who has not filed for unemployment assistance in the past 12 months.

Across the 15-county Northwest Georgia region, the number of new claims increased by 825, from 4,777 in September to 5,602 in October, a 17.3 percent increase. Like Floyd County, the regional claims were down significantly, 32.9 percent from October a year ago when 8,347 first time claims were filed.

Looking at the most prominent sectors of the local economy, the Department of Labor reports that the construction industry showed the largest number of new claims in October, with 122 in Floyd County, exactly double the number of new claims in construction in September; 94 new claims were filed in the administrative and support services sector, up from 75 in September.

The wholesale and retail trade sectors reported 50 initial claims locally in October, up from 36 in September.

First time filers were also up in heath care and social assistance, from 24 in September to 40 in October. Accommodations and food services claims were also up from 20 to 27.

The labor office in Atlanta also reported that Rome gained 1,000 payroll jobs, from 37,100 in October of 2011 to 38,100 in October of this year. By contrast, Dalton lost 2,400, from 63,800 in October a year ago to 61,400 this past month.