Economist Says Unemployment Shows Post-Recession Improvement

WHATCOM, Wash. -- A regional economist says the drop in the national unemployment rate shows that the economy has improved since the great recession.

President Obama also says the new numbers are proof of an improving economy, while Republican candidate Mitt Romney says the dropping unemployment rate is just proof that more people have given up looking for work.

But Elizabeth Court with the State Employment Security Department says the numbers show that more people started looking for work.

She says one reason the jobless rate is going down is because more people who were working temporary jobs because of the recession are getting permanent jobs.

The national jobless rate dropped below eight percent for the first time since early 2009 as 114 thousand non-farm jobs were added in September.

National unemployment now stands at 7.8 percent.