AUSTIN, Texas — Austin’s unemployment rate for October is officially at 2.7 percent, according to the city’s monthly jobs report.

Although this month’s rate is about the same as this time last year, there are 2,000 fewer unemployed people than there were last month. There are also about 2,000 fewer job postings in Austin right now compared to October of last year.

According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the city added 40,000 new jobs in the last 12 months,  a growth of nearly 4 percent. It makes Austin the 7th fastest growing major metro area in the country. Most of the new jobs are in computer technology, healthcare, and management.

Last year, the city of Austin launched the Master Community Workforce Plan that works to provide low-income workers with the skills to work in high-demand industries.

“We’re on our way to proving that it’s well worth it, and there’s a strong return on investment, when we invest in our low income neighbors, give them the skills that are demanded by employers, and then move them into those jobs,” Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions said.

By 2021, the city plans to have helped 2,000 people get promotions that bring them into the middle class, and help 8,000 people get hired in middle-income jobs.