Unemployment in St. Lawrence County remains the highest in the state outside of New York City, but it is showing consistent improvement since the beginning of the year.

The unemployment rate in St. Lawrence County was measured at 9 percent in October, down from 9.3 percent in September and 9.6 percent in October 2010, according to figures released by he New York State Department of Labor today.

October's rate shows continued improvement since the start of 2011, when the rate in January was at 12.1 percent.

By July the rate had dropped to 10.5 percent; in August it was 9.7 percent.

Two New York City boroughs have the highest unemployment rates in the state, Bronx at 12.4 percent and Brooklyn at 9.7 percent for October.

St. Lawrence and Fulton counties are next, at 9 percent, followed by Jefferson County at 8.8 percent unemployed in October, compared with 8.7 percent in September and 9 percent in October 2010.

To our east in Franklin County, October's rate was 7.8 percent, down slightly from September's 7.9 percent, and from October 2010's rate of 8.2 percent.

The lowest rates in the state for October were in Tompkins County in the Finger Lakes region at 5.3 percent, and 5.9 percent in Saratoga County, north of Albany.

The national rate for October was 8.5 percent. The state rate was 7.7 percent.