The latest state jobs report says the jobless rate in Missouri hit its lowest level in almost four years in September.

The unemployment rate hit 6.9 percent, the lowest since December 2008, down from 7.2 percent in August.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes another survey, which measures the number of people employed by Missouri companies, is less encouraging. It finds over 2-million-600 people on payrolls in the state last month, up 2,500 from August and 11,400 from the same time last year, but there are still 78,900 fewer people working in Missouri than in January, 2009.

Both numbers take seasonal variations into account.