The Wisconsin unemployment rate is at its lowest level since Sept. 11, 2001, the Department of Workforce Development announced Thursday.

The October unadjusted, or raw, jobless rate was tallied at 3.8 percent, making it the first month in more than four years to dip below 4 percent. The national unadjusted rate came in nearly 1 percent higher at 4.6 percent for October.

DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman said the drop is a sign of continued growth in the state's economy and an indication Wisconsin's economic environment is still recovering from the economic slump in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We have made great strides toward a solid economic future and will continue our efforts to create job opportunities for all Wisconsin workers," Gassman said in a release.

In addition, DWD reported the unadjusted October unemployment rate of 3.8 percent was down 0.2 percent from both the previous month and one year ago.

DWD spokesperson Rose Lynch said the rise in employment can be attributed to initiatives set forth by Gov. Jim Doyle.

"We've been working very hard through the governor's Grow Wisconsin plan to make Wisconsin a better place for businesses," Lynch said. "[Doyle] has been providing funding for kinds of initiatives to actually encourage employers to grow and expand their businesses."

The number of non-farm jobs in the state was estimated at more than 2.85 million, a jump of more than 18,900 jobs since October 2004.

The construction sector in the state experienced some of the largest job growth, Lynch said, with the creation of 5,100 new jobs since last year. Along with construction, the professional and business, and education, health and social services sectors also showed strong growth with 5,400 and 7,800 jobs, respectively, added in the last 12 months.

However, Lynch said other areas of the economy have not fared as well.

"We have had some difficulties with manufacturing, which we've had for some time," Lynch said. "It is coming back slowly (since Sept. 11), although it is down a little from last year — it's been somewhat flat, but we're continuing to work to find ways to grow in that area as well."

Though many factors coincide with job loss in manufacturing in the state, Lynch said "transformations" in the economy, from relying heavily on manufacturing to being more knowledge-based, is one main reason for the incidence.

"There's just less demand for the manufacturing-type worker," Lynch said.

The knowledge-based industry encompasses intellectual jobs, such as the many academic positions at the University of Wisconsin, and those in the biotechnology industry, which is strong in the Madison area, Lynch said.

"The UW is a star," Lynch said, citing the university system's role in job creation in the state.

Despite promising increases in the job market, Gassman said the state's unemployment status could use some improvements.

"Although we have made great progress, we still have pockets of the state where we have work to do," she said in a release.