Unemployment falls across four US regions

September unemployment rates generally declined across the areas covered: northern Illinois counties and cities reported lower rates than both August and a year earlier, while Oklahoma’s rate edged down to 4.2%. Montana’s rate fell to 3.1%, below the national rate of 4.2%, though payroll employment declined by 1,300 jobs, mainly in accommodation and food services and finance and insurance. North Dakota recorded a preliminary rate of 1.8% without seasonal adjustment and 2.2% seasonally adjusted; its nonfarm employment grew 0.3% over the year, but the state’s labor force participation rate eased. North Dakota’s job gains were concentrated in Fargo, while Grand Forks lost jobs and Bismarck employment was unchanged.