JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's unemployment rate fell slightly in September as the state regained jobs, but employment still lagged behind that of a year ago.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was 5.4 percent -- down two-tenths of a percentage point from August, the Department of Economic Development said late last week.

That unemployment rate continued to remain below the nation's 6.1 percent rate.

Missouri's payroll employment increased by 18,300 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in September to a total of 2,661,800 jobs, but non-farm payroll employment remained 39,400 jobs lower than in September 2002.

A total of 162,200 Missourians were unemployed this September.

Joe Driskill, director of the Department of Economic Development, described the falling unemployment rate as "an encouraging economic indicator for Missouri" and said the growth in jobs also was "a positive sign of economic growth and vitality."

During September, trade, transportation and utilities employment grew by 1,500 jobs over August while financial activities added 1,400 jobs. Private educational and health services employment was up 900 jobs.

Construction, professional and business services, and the leisure and hospitality sectors reported lower employment than in August.

On an unadjusted basis, Missouri's unemployment rate decreased to 5.3 percent in September, down from 5.8 percent the previous month and about one-half percentage point below the national rate.

Nodaway County in northwest Missouri had the lowest unemployment rate in September at 1.5 percent. The highest rate was in Linn County in north-central Missouri at 11.3 percent.