(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Indiana’s jobless rate dipped to 8.0 percent in October with numbers even better in the southeastern part of the state, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

The state’s monthly employment report issued Tuesday illustrated a decline from 8.2 percent unemployment in September, and a significant reduction from the 9.1 percent jobless rate seen in October of 2011.

Indiana nearly doubled the national rate of job growth in October by adding 7,700 private sector jobs – the largest monthly gain since May. Private sector employment in the Hoosier state is now at more than 96 percent of the 2007 pre-recession levels. 

“Over the past year Indiana has experienced one of the strongest periods of job growth in over a decade,” said Scott B. Sanders, Commissioner of the Department of Workforce Development. “Since last October we have added nearly 67,000 private sector jobs and continue to significantly outpace the national rate of growth.” 

Sectors showing gains in October include Leisure and Hospitality (5,200), Manufacturing (3,100) and Trade, Transportation & Utilities (2,200). The Professional and Business Services (-1,500) and Financial Activities(-1,100) sectors had the largest declines.

Dearborn County’s unemployment rate remained at 7.4 percent in October, the highest in the Eagle 99.3 southeast Indiana listening area. Switzerland County bragged the lowest unemployment rate at just 6.1 percent, unchanged from September.

In Ripley County, the rate remained at 7.6 percent in October, down from 9.1 percent in the same month last year. Ohio County declined to 6.9 percent in October from 7.2 percent in September and a full percent less than October 2011.

Franklin County saw an unemployment increase from 7.1 percent in September to 7.3 percent in October, still down from 7.4 percent a year ago.