ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s unemployment rate remains a full two percentage points better than the national average.

Figures for September show the seasonally adjusted jobless rate for Minnesota fell to 5.8 percent, a tick lower than September. The national rate for the month was 7.8 percent.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development said Thursday that employers added a net 5,900 jobs last month. Figures for August were also revised upward to reflect a less severe drop-off that month. Over the past year, officials say there has been a growth of 34,700 net jobs.

Education and health services were the big gainers and the leisure and hospitality sector was also strong. Government entities, manufacturers and information sectors reported job losses.

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