The unemployment rate in Rowan County dipped slightly in August from the previous month, according to figures released last week by the N.C. Department of Commerce.

Rowan’s jobless rate for August was 6.3 percent — down from 6.4 percent in July — with a reported 4,067 people unemployed out of a labor force of 64,703.

In August of 2014, the county’s unemployment rate was 7 percent.

According to the Commerce Department, August unemployment rates decreased in 86 North Carolina counties, increased in four counties and were unchanged in 10 counties.

Scotland County had the highest jobless rate in August at 11.4 percent; Buncomb County had the lowest at 4.6 percent.

All the counties surrounding Rowan saw their unemployment rates fall in August. They are: Cabarrus, with 5.5 percent in August and 5.7 percent in July; Davidson, 5.9 percent in August, 6 percent in July; Davie, 5.3 percent in August, 5.5 percent in July; Iredell, 5.7 percent in August, 5.9 percent in July; and Stanly, 5.8 percent in August, 6 percent in July.

The national unemployment rate for September, released Friday held steady at 5.1 percent. The U.S. Labor Department reported that 142,000 new jobs were added across the country in September. Econcomists had projected 203,000 new jobs for the month.

“While the Great Recession is in the rearview mirror, this report is a reminder that we still face significant headwinds. We need to do more to provide people with opportunities to compete for good jobs and earn decent wages,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said in a news release.

The statewide unemployment rate for September will be released Oct. 20.