Region's unemployment rate drops slightly, but still above 9 percent

   The Ontario-San Bernardino-Riverside unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in September, according to a recently-released report by California's Employment Development Department.

   That's down from 9.2 percent in August, and above the year-ago estimate of 6.3 percent.

   In September, total nonfarm employment increased by 5,600.

   But from September 2007 to September 2008, total nonfarm employment dropped by almost 20,000 jobs -- about 1.6 percent. The local construction sector keeps posting the greatest month-over declines.

   The region's unemployment rate was less than 5 percent in October 2006.