Surry county residents received an early holiday present yesterday when the North Carolina Department of Commerce released unemployment numbers that show Surry County’s jobless rate is falling even farther into the single digits.

According to numbers released late yesterday morning, Surry County’s unemployment rate fell four-tenths of a percent in October, to 9.3 percent, down from September’s rate of 9.7 percent.

Last month, the county reported 3,113 residents out of work out of a civilian labor force of 33,351, according to the Commerce Department.

This year, Surry County has suffered seven months of jobless numbers in the double digits, according to figures released by the department.

Stokes County’s jobless rate also fell slightly, down two-tenths of a percent to 8.0 percent. Stokes County reported 1,975 people looking for work out of a civilian labor force of 24,691.

Neighboring Yadkin County didn’t fare so well in October, with the unemployment rate rising two-tenths of a percent to 8.1 percent last month.

Yadkin County reported 1,580 residents looking for work out of a labor force of 19,586.

Alleghany County’s jobless rate held steady last month after falling from the double digits rate in August to last month’s rate of 8.8 percent.

The county reported 417 residents searching for work out of a labor force of 4,729, according to the Department of Commerce.

Wilkes County is still struggling with double-digit jobless numbers, but those fell slightly in October to 10.1 percent, down one-tenth of a percent from the September rate of 10.2 percent.

According to Department of Commerce figures, the county has 3,087 residents seeking work, up slightly from September’s 3,065 residents out of a job. This is out of a civilian labor force of 30,431.

North Carolina’s jobless rate fell three-tenths of a percent to 9.7 percent in October, according to the Commerce Department.

Reach Keith Strange at kstrange@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1929.