Unemployment rates across the state and the Wilmington region are continuing a downward trend.
 
The Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area's unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent in September, according to the latest state statistics.
 
The MSA's rate of 4.5 percent compares to 4.8 last month and 5.2 in September 2015, a news release from the N.C. Department of Commerce said Wednesday.
 
In general, economists consider a rate of 5 percent to represent full employment.
 
The latest unemployment rates, which have not been seasonally adjusted, also fell in year-over-year and month-over-month comparisons in the individual counties that make up the Wilmington MSA -- New Hanover and Pender counties.
 
In New Hanover County, the rate declined from 4.7 percent in August this year to 4.4 percent in September, compared to 5.1 percent in September 2015.
 
In Pender County, the September rate came in at 5.0 percent, down from 5.2 percent in August and 5.7 percent a year ago.
 
Meanwhile across the river, Brunswick County's rate increased to 5.9 percent in September, up from 5.7 percent in August. A year ago, Brunswick County had an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.
 
North Carolina’s statewide unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) was 4.8 percent in September.
 
When compared to the same month last year, not seasonally adjusted unemployment rates decreased in all 100 counties. All 15 metro areas experienced rate decreases over the year, according to the news release.
 
September’s largest increase in total non-farm employment in the Wilmington MSA came from the government sector, which rose 3.6 percent compared to August this year and 1.3 percent compared to last year, according to a state labor market conditions chart.
 
As expected, leisure and hospitality dropped 1.9 percent in September compared to August with the tourist season drawing to a close.
 
Looking at the state, Scotland County recorded September’s highest unemployment rate at 8.5 percent, followed by Edgecombe at 8.3 percent, Wilson at 7.8 percent, and Halifax at 7.6 percent.