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(AP) -- State labor officials reports the number of jobless applying for unemployment rose in October, but was lower than it was a year ago. 

Unemployment insurance initial claims released by the Georgia Department of Labor on Thursday showed that 70,957 laid-off workers filed for benefits in October. That's up 3,983, or six percent, from September, when 66,614 claims were filed. 

It's down a little more than two percent from October 2008. 

The average time jobless Georgia workers drew benefits increased from 11.6 weeks in October 2008 to 14.4 weeks in October 2009.

Most claims were from laid off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade.

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