Idaho unemployment down

BOISE (AP) — Idaho’s unemployment rate has dipped below the national average for the first time since in 11 months.

The state Department of Labor said Friday the statewide unemployment rate fell to 9 percent in September, down from 9.2 percent in August, as Idaho employers hired more than 17,000 new workers during the last month. 

There are still about 68,000 unemployed people in the state, but the agency says that’s the lowest number since February 2010.

The nationwide unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in September.