Maine’s September unemployment rate fell to 7.6 percent, down slightly from a revised 7.7 percent in August, and up from 7.4 percent a year ago.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was better than the U.S. rate of 7.8 percent, which had improved from 8.1 percent in August and 9.0 percent a year ago, according to the state Department of Labor.

September marked the 60th consecutive month Maine had a higher share of employed population than the nation, the state said..

For New England overall, the unemployment rate in September was 7.4 percent. Rates ranged from 5.4 percent in Vermont to 10.5 percent in Rhode Island.

The non-seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in September, unchanged from a year ago.

The non-seasonally-adjusted rates ranged from 5.6 percent in Cumberland County to 9.5 percent in Washington County. Rates tended to be lower than the statewide average in southern and coastal counties and higher than average in northern and rim counties.

Among metro areas, the non-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in Portland-South Portland-Biddeford was 5.6 percent; in Bangor, 6.7 percent, and Lewiston-Auburn, 6.9 percent.