The unemployment rate in Central Jersey, like the rest of the state, is going down, based on figures from the federal Department of Labor.
New Jersey's unemployment rate is lower than the national rate, but still is higher than neighboring states.
Statistics from the federal government show that New Jersey's unemployment rate remained steady at 9.2 percent in November, but down from 9.9 percent in November 2009.
The national jobless rate edged up by 0.2 percent between October and November to 9.8 percent. New York's unemployment rate was 8.3 percent and Pennsylvania's rate was 8.6 percent.
New Jersey was fourth in the country in having the largest monthly increase in employment, according to the federal Department of Labor.
Unemployment also was down through Central Jersey.
In October, the latest month for which local statistics are available, the unemployment rate in Somerset County was 6.9 percent, down from 7.5 percent in October 2009.
In Hunterdon County, the unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, down from 6.9 percent. The Union County unemployment rate was 9 percent, down from 9.8 percent, and the Middlesex County rate was 8.2 percent, down from 9 percent.
"We're heading in the right direction," said Michael Kerwin, president and CEO of the Somerset County Business Partnership. "We're looking for a more prosperous 2011."
"There's a lot of positive things going on." Kerwin said.
The lower unemployment rates extended to Central Jersey municipalities. Every municipality with a population more than 25,000 where statistics are collected registered a drop in unemployment.
At the high end of the scale was Perth Amboy, where the unemployment rate was 15.4 percent, down from 16 percent in October 2009.
In Plainfield, the unemployment rate dropped a full percentage point from 11.5 percent to 10.5 percent.
At the low end of the scale was Westfield with a 5.5 percent rate, down from 5.7 percent and Bernards with a 5.9 percent rate, down from 6.3 percent.
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