The pace of what had been an improving jobless rate in New York slowed in October as the coronavirus charges back in the state and across the country. 

Numbers released on Thursday by the state Department of Labor show New York's private-sector job count grew by 45,600 positions in October, keeping the state's unemployment rate largely flat from September. 

The unemployment rate decreased from 9.7% to 9.6%, the Department of Labor said. New York's unemployment rate had declined dramatically since the spring, when it had reached double digit percentage points and one out of five people in New York City were out of work. 

The jobless rate fell below 10% in New York for the first time since the spring.

Coronavirus cases are once again increasing in the country and lawmakers in Washington are considering another round of stimulus for the economy before the end of the year. Money could be sent to small businesses affected by the pandemic as well as to those who have lost their jobs due to the crisis. 

The rising cases have also led officials to curtail gatherings as well as restaurants, bars and gyms in some areas in order to limit the spread of the virus.

New York is also a tale of two states: Outside of New York City, the unemployment rate fell from 6.9% to 6.6%. In New York City, it fell from 13.9% to 13.2%. New York City is the engine of the state's economy, but tourism and hospitality -- two staples of working class jobs -- have been sectors hit especially hard by the pandemic. 

Nationally, the unemployment rate in October stood at 6.9%.