LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 9.8 percent in September, down from a revised 10.1 percent in August, according to figures released Oct. 22 by the state Employment Development Department (EDD).

The rate in September 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, was 13 percent.

In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the September jobless rate was 5 percent, down from 6 percent in August.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent in September, the same rate as August, but below the September 2020 rate of 10.6 percent.

The comparable estimates for the nation were 4.8 percent in September, 5.2 percent in August, and 7.8 percent in September 2020.

According to the EDD, total nonfarm employment in Los Angeles County increased by 31,500 jobs between August and September, settling at about 4.28 million. The government sector added the most jobs, 19,000, most notably in educational services thanks to the return of in-person instruction at schools.