The state seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 6.6 percent, up slightly from 6.5 percent in August, but down from the 7 percent rate at this time last year, the Kansas Department of Labor reported today.

The labor report showed that six of the 11 major employment sectors reported over-the-year job gains in September, and Kansas gained non-farm jobs for the third consecutive month.

“We have come a long way since last summer when Kansas was at the height of the economic recession,” said Gov. Mark Parkinson.

“We’re now seeing encouraging signs of job creation each month, and our unemployment rate still remains one of the lowest in the country. While our road to recovery may be slow, it is steady, and that is how we’ll continue to get Kansans back to work over the coming months,” Parkinson said.

The national unemployment is 9.6 percent.

Government gained 21,000 jobs over the month, an 8.6 percent increase. The majority of job gains in this area are seasonal due to employees returning to local school districts for the new school year, the Labor Department reported.

There were 23,583 initial claims for unemployment benefits filed in September, up from 17,642 initial claims in August and down from 23,739 in September 2009. There were 194,587 continued claims in September, down from 235,654 in August and down from 275,987 in September 2009.

In the Lawrence metropolitan statistical area, the jobless rate was 5.9 percent, down from 6 percent in August, but more than the 5.5 percent rate in September 2009.