Montana’s unemployment rate went down slightly, and the jobless rate on the Hi-Line dropped significantly during September.

Statewide, the rate declined from 6.3 percent to 6.1 percent from August to September. Nationwide, the rate went from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent.

“Montana’s unemployment rate continued its downward trend this month with strong job gains of 1,100 jobs, ” Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said this morning. “Over the last year, the number of unemployed people has dropped by 11 percent with many more Montanans back at work. ”

Both Montana and the U. S. unemployment rates made significant movements downward in September, echoing the declines at this time last year. Montana’s employment growth rate over the last year remains at 1.7 percent, above its long-term average of 1.2 percent since the series started in 1976.

At the U. S. level, employment has grown by 2 percent in the last year, compared to a 1.3 percent average annual growth rate using the same time period, Kelly said.

Along the Hi-Line:

• Blaine County's rate declined from 5.7 percent in August to 4.9 percent in September. A total of 134 people were out of work.

• Chouteau County's jobless rate fell from 3.8 percent to 3.6 percent, with 96 people out of work.

• Hill County's unemployment rate declined form 5.7 to 4.8 percent. In all, 419 people were jobless.

• In Liberty County, there were 42 people out of work. The rate dropped from 5.8 to 5.2 percent.