MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The state’s unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point to 5.8 percent in September, a full two percentage points better than the national rate.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says nearly 6,000 new jobs were created, bringing the total number so far this year to nearly 35,000.

The good news extends beyond jobs and the unemployment rate.

New housing construction is seeing its biggest year in a long time. Wendy Danks with the Builder’s Association of the Twin Cities says new construction permits for September are at their highest level since 2007, as are permits overall so far this year.

Danks says most of the new housing construction is in the western suburbs and has been driven by low inventory levels in the existing housing market.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Laura Oakes Reports