School’s in

The state jobless rate in September dropped to 11.8 percent from 12.1 percent in August. Washoe County unemployment fell from 11.5 to 10.8 percent.

The number of new jobs statewide—about 14,600—is nearly twice the number expected. State officials attributed it mostly to new private sector hiring.

September is usually a month in which jobs jump as a result of back-to-school hiring, but it was uncertain what would happen this year because the state’s population growth has leveled off.