INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's unemployment rate dipped another 0.3 percent in September, easing further below the 10 percent mark.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Wednesday that Indiana's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.6 percent, down from 9.9 percent in September.

Interactive: State-By-State Unemployment Figures

The decline caps a three-month trend that saw the state's unemployment rate dip 1.1 percent and tumble below the national average of 9.8 percent for the first time in nearly a year.

"Indiana is bucking the national trend with three straight months of declining unemployment," said Teresa Voors, commissioner of DWD, in a statement. "We are encouraged by increases in manufacturing and professional and business service jobs. It's still too early to say we have turned the corner, but Indiana's economy is definitely trending in the right direction."

Non-farm employment grew by 4,400 jobs in September, marking the first back-to-back monthly gains since October and November 2007, DWD said.

About 3,000 manufacturing jobs were added in September, too, while professional and business sectors tallied an additional 2,900 jobs.

Construction jobs were down quite a bit, though, with a decrease of 3,300 jobs.

Manpower Inc., an employment placement company in central Indiana, reported an increase in business from this time last year, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

"Where a company may not want to hire outright, but they would staff through a temporary agency first, possibly to make sure things are going to be OK before they feel completely confidant in hiring that individual," said Ramona Schaefer, the branch manager at Manpower North Shadeland.

After looking for a job for a year, Indianapolis resident James Lawrence said he found work at a local online ordering warehouse through Manpower.

"I got a little boy about to get ready to turn 2, so I'm just glad I got a job, you know what I'm saying. It just changed my life," he said.

Indiana's unemployment rate is the lowest among neighboring states. Illinois' jobless rate was up to 10.5 percent, while Ohio declined to 10.1 percent, Kentucky decreased to 10.9 percent and Michigan went up to 15.3 percent.