For the first time since April, Indiana's unemployment rate dropped, but the state also lost jobs last month.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics says September's state jobless rate was 8.2 percent, down from the August rate of 8.3 percent. However, the Department of Workforce Development says Indiana lost 6,000 private sector jobs last month, the first time that's happened in almost a year.

More people were looking for work last month, as the civilian labor force rose by 1,500. Still, roughly 56,000 fewer people are in the state's labor force than this time last year. The number of people without jobs dropped by 3,600 in September.

Most of September's job losses came in professional and business services, as the number of people working in the sector dropped by 3,300. Private educational and health Services (-2,600), manufacturing (-1,400) and leisure and hospitality (-200) also showed declines. The department says Indiana gained jobs last month in transportation and uilities (900), financial activities (300) and construction (200).

Despite September losses, the department says private sector jobs in Indiana have grown by more than 43,000 this year, and the state's 1.8-percent job growth rate is faster than the national average of 1.2 percent.

@WIBC_RaySteele