Figures from the Delaware Department of Labor showed Delaware’s unemployment rate remained at 8.3 percent in October. That was unchanged from September and down only slightly from the 8.5 percent a year ago in October.
The nation’s unemployment rate 9.6 percent, unchanged from September, but below the 10.1 percent posted in October of last year.
Due to lower employment in retailing, leisure and hospitality and other areas, total employment was down about 3,000 from September. Over the past year, total employment has grown by about 1,800 jobs.
One closely watched area, professional and business services, saw a loss of 600 jobs between September and October and a decline of 700 jobs in the October to October period. Employment growth in the category often signals the beginning of an economic recovery, since the sector includes temporary workers.
Education and health remained the strongest area, with a gain of 2,400 jobs in the past year in Delaware.
Among cities and counties in the state, Newark had the lowest jobless rate at 7.3 percent, up from 7 percent in September and 7.2 percent in October 2009.
