(AP) -- Michigan officials say the state's jobless rate has fallen sharply to 9.8 percent, its lowest level in three years.

The state said Wednesday that Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in November was down 0.8 percentage points from October and down 1.6 percentage points from November 2010.

The last time the jobless rate stretches back to October 2008, when it stood at 9.4 percent.

It's the first time since November 2008 that unemployment's been below 10 percent.

The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget says total employment rose 21,000 in November, while the number of those who were jobless and seeking work fell 39,000.

Michigan's unemployment rate continues to exceed the national rate, which was 8.6 percent in November. That was down 0.4 percentage points from the previous month.

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