L.A. County’s robust labor market continued to thrive in October as the unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent from 4.9 percent in September and 5.1 percent a year earlier.

Employers in the county added 35,000 payroll jobs, according to the most recent report form the state Employment Development Department.

The jobless rate was lower than the statewide rate of 4.9 percent for October, though still higher than the national mark of 4.1 percent. L.A. County’s rate fell even as more people entered the labor market in October. The labor force grew by 12,000 to nearly 5.18 million, but L.A. County added 18,000 new workers to 4.93 million, according to figures from the California Employment Development Department.

The county’s two largest cities – Los Angeles and Long Beach – posted unemployment rates of 4.6 percent and 4.8 percent respectively.

A continued surge in seasonal hiring of education workers led the way in the county’s overall payroll job growth of 35,000 to reach 4.49 million. Education payrolls in both the public and private sector swelled by more than 20,000. Seasonal hiring for wholesale and retail trade rose by 5,000 as the holiday season neared.

– Howard Fine