DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate remained unchanged in September at 4.2 percent. Iowa Workforce Development announced Friday that the rate didn’t change even as the number of people with jobs increased, due to an expanded workforce.

The rate was up from 3.6 percent a year ago but remained beneath the national rate of 5 percent in September. The state estimates there were 1.65 million people working during the month.