COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - Branch County’s jobless rate has declined below ten percent. The September unemployment figures released Thursday show the county’s rate fell from 10.4% in August to 9.8% last month. And that’s much better than a year ago when the number was 11.4%.

The Branch County figure is also better than the state-wide average in September of 10.1%.  Officials in Lansing said typical seasonal patterns dominated Michigan's local labor market situation in September. A reduction in the summer and seasonal work force was offset by increases in education related employment.  Calhoun County’s rate dropped down to 8.6%.