The unemployment rate in Flathead County increased .1 percent in September to 8.8 percent.

The county's jobless rate had been steadily declining from its high of 12.7 percent in March before the slight uptick from August to September, according to figures from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

A year ago, the Flathead County unemployment rate was 5 percent

In Lake County, the September unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.3 percent from 8.4 percent in August.

In Sanders County, which continues to have the highest jobless percentage in Montana, the rate dropped from 12.2 percent to 11.2 percent. Lincoln County also decreased from 11.8 percent to 11.1 percent.

The lowest unemployment in the state - 3.1 percent - is in Prairie and Sweet Grass counties.

Montana's statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also increased by .1 percent to 6.7 percent.

The state's numbers for individual counties are not adjusted for seasonal fluctuations in the work force.

The national unemployment rate increased from 9.7 percent to 9.8 percent.

"Nationally, the rate increased by only a small amount despite large job losses because of a decline in the labor force," Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly said.

"Conversely, Montana's unemployment rate increased slightly because of people entering the job market. More than 1,200 Montanans started looking for work this month, causing a small uptick in our unemployment rate despite the net increase of about 950 jobs."