INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's unemployment rate of 9.8 percent in October is slightly higher than September's adjusted jobless rate of 9.7 percent, but state officials said the change is statistically insignificant.

Numbers released Friday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development showed that Indiana's October jobless rate stayed below the national unemployment rate of 10.2 percent for that month.

Interactive: State-By-State Unemployment Figures

Indiana had been above the national rate from October 2008 until September 2009.

The new figures showed that more than 291,000 residents were looking for work in October, up from 289,000 in September.

"Indiana's unemployment rate has held relatively steady for the past three months, despite a steadily climbing national rate," said DWD Commissioner Teresa Voors. "A projected soft holiday retail season combined with a slump in manufacturing and hospitality employment tempers my optimism concerning the coming months."

The numbers also showed a decrease in the state's labor force, which could be a sign that more discouraged workers are giving up their job searches.

Indiana fares better than neighboring states. Illinois' unemployment rate jumped to 11 percent, while Ohio climbed to 10.5 percent.

Kentucky's unemployment rate declined to 11.2 percent, and Michigan's spiked to 15.1 percent.