Ames unemployment fell by more than half a percent in September, according to figures released Wednesday by Iowa Workforce Development.

Unemployment for the month was 4.0 percent, compared with 4.6 percent in August. The state unemployment rate remained at 6.7 percent for both months, while the national rate increased from 9.7 percent to 9.8 percent.

The Ames economy remains relatively strong compared to the state and nation, although unemployment is still up from the 2.6 percent figure recorded during September of last year.

The 4.0 percent unemployment rate represents 1,300 unemployed workers in a labor force of 33,200.