North Florida’s unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in September, down from 6.7 percent August but substantially higher than the 4.1 percent rate recorded in September 2007.

All five counties in the area had unemployment rates up sharply from a year ago, but the September rate was down slightly in four of the five counties from August.

Duval was at 6.6 percent, up from 4.3 percent a year ago. Clay was at 5.7 percent, up from 3.6 percent a year ago. St. Johns was at 5.7 percent, up from 3.5 percent a year ago. Nassau was at 5.9 percent, up from 3.5 percent a year ago. Flagler was at 10.3 percent, up from 7 percent a year ago.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, same as it was in August. It was 4.2 percent in September last year. Nationwide, it was unchanged at 6.1 percent.

There were about 3,400 more people employed in the Jacksonville area during September than at the same time last year.

_{Jacksonville Business Journal}