The unemployment rate in Schuylkill County fell below 9 percent for the second time in three months, decreasing 0.1 of a point to 8.9 for May.
The state rate also dropped 0.1 of a point over the month to 7.5 percent while the national rate went up 0.1 of a point to 7.6 percent.
Over the year, the Schuylkill County rate fell by 0.5 of point while the state rate decreased 0.4 of a point and the national rate fell 0.6 of a point.
Total nonfarm jobs in Schuylkill County were up 500 over the month. The 1 percent gain increased total nonfarm jobs to 52,300 for May.
Over the year, Schuylkill County was up 1,3000 jobs, an increase of 2.5 percent, while the state gained 9,800, or 0.2 percent.
Manufacturing jobs were up 200 over the year and multiple service-providing sectors had similar increases. While there were no individual sectors at record-level highs, many were near them and have driven the service-providing industries total to a record high of 39,900 jobs.
However, it is typical for most of these industries to experience seasonal gains and March through June are typically the highest employment levels of the year.
Schuylkill County was tied with Cambria, Lackawanna and Potter counties for the seventh-highest rate in the state's 67 counties.
Unemployment rates for surrounding counties were: Berks, 7.6; Carbon, 9.3; Columbia, 7.1; Dauphin, 7.1; Lebanon, 6.2; Lehigh, 7.9; Luzerne, 9.4; and Northumberland, 8.5.