JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri’s unemployment has dropped slightly to hit its lowest rate since June 2000.

Department of Economic Development data released Wednesday show the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent in July.

That’s down from 3.5 percent in June.

Missouri unemployment was at 3.6 percent in July 2017 and hovered between 3.6 percent and 3.7 percent for most of the past year. It started edging down in June.

According to department data, seasonally adjusted employment went up by about 9,800 jobs in July compared to June.

The change in nonfarm employment came as the seasonally adjusted civilian labor force went up by about 7,700 people in the same time period. The labor force counts people with jobs and those who are on unemployment but looking for work.