The unemployment rate in Schuylkill County decreased 0.4 of a percentage point to 9.5 percent in September.
The national rate decreased 0.3 of a point to 7.8 percent. The state rate increased 0.1 of a point to 8.2 percent.
"(Schuylkill County) fared pretty well," Steven Zellers, industry and business analyst with the state Department of Labor & Industry, said. "Jobs are up over the month and over the year, which speaks to the generally trend of improvement for the area."
Total nonfarm jobs in the county increased by 700 in September to 51,900. Over the year, jobs in the county increased by 1,500, or 3 percent.
Service-providing industries were up 700, or 1.8 percent, surpassing the statewide increase of 1.4 percent. The month's increase in jobs was the highest for September since 2006, when there was an 800-job increase.
Trade, transportation and utility jobs also increased by 200 from last month and 800 over the year.
Local government jobs were up 500 since August. Zellers said this is a typical seasonal increase as public schools are back in session.
"Government has been flat over the year," Zellers said. "Some places lost over the year with teacher layoffs while other areas increased with population growth. Even though there's no gain over the year, it's not as drastic as it sounds because a lot of the smaller areas lost over the year."
Schuylkill County's rate was tied for 10th-lowest among the state's 67 counties with Fayette, Huntingdon and Potter counties. County rates throughout the state ranged from 5.8 percent in Montour County to 11.5 percent in Cameron County for September.
Unemployment rates for surrounding counties were: Berks, 8.1; Carbon, 10.2; Columbia, 8.1; Dauphin, 7.8; Lebanon, 6.7; Lehigh, 8.7; Luzerne, 9.8; and Northumberland, 8.7 percent.