The unemployment rate for Flathead County improved slightly in November, though it’s still in double digits at 10.6 percent.

While the jobless rate is only 0.3 percent better than October’s 10.9 percent rate, it does equate to 278 fewer unemployed people, according to figures released Tuesday by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

In November the county had 38,030 people working and 4,498 without jobs out of a work force of 42,528.

The jobless rate has dipped below 10 percent only twice since October 2009, both times in September at the close of the summer tourist season.

Lincoln County has overtaken Sanders County as the place with the highest unemployment, posting 14.4 percent unemployment in November. Sanders County’s jobless rate was at 14 percent.

 Montana’s unemployment rate dropped by 0.5 percent to 7.1 percent in November, marking the third straight month of unemployment rate decreases.

The state unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted; county unemployment numbers are not.

The U.S. unemployment rate also decreased, dropping 0.4 percent to 8.6 percent in November.

 The drop in the state unemployment rate is primarily due to an increase of about 1,730 jobs over the last month. 

The number of unemployed fell 2,230 in November.

Total employment estimates have posted job growth throughout 2011, with the exception of the third quarter.

Payroll employment estimates, however, indicate a drop of 2,600 jobs over the month, with employment losses concentrated in government, construction, arts, entertainment and recreation.

Contradictory results from the two employment estimates are not unusual because of a small sample size, and preliminary estimates are regularly revised in the following month when additional employment information becomes available, according to Labor Commissioner Keith Kelly.

Both the total and payroll employment estimates have indicated job growth over the past year.