Unemployment rate drops in 41 states, including 7 swing states

The unemployment rate dropped in 41 states in September, including some of the key battleground states in the upcoming presidential election, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday.

The state-based job reports, coming on the heels of an improved national jobs report earlier this month, may help President Barack Obama, The Washington Post noted.

The data shows that unemployment increased in six states, while three states showed no change, according to USA Today.

The unemployment rate decreased in seven key swing states, including Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina, the Associated Press reported. The rate was unchanged in New Hampshire and Virginia.

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The national unemployment rate showed a downward shift two weeks ago, falling to 7.8 percent, the lowest level since Obama took office, Reuters noted.

"Of the eleven states where the polls are currently tight, about half had unemployment rates above the national average," said Reuters.

The unemployment rate in Colorado fell from 8.2 percent to 8.0 percent, while Nevada's fell from 12.1 percent to 11.8 percent. North Carolina fell to 9.6 percent, Wisconsin to 7.3 percent, and Ohio to 7 percent.

Pennsylvania's jobless rate rose from 8.1 percent to 8.2 percent.

The Post noted that unemployment still remains high across the country, a fact that could help Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney challenge Obama.

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