Unemployment rates fell in California with construction, government, transportation and other once-troubling sectors showing signs of improvement.

California's rate of unemployment improved to 11.9 percent last month from 12.1 percent in August, the California Employment Development Department reported.

Five categories of employment rose in September, with the biggest increase in professional and business services at 13,300. Six categories lost employment, including manufacturing, information, financial and health services. The largest decrease was in the government, a loss of 7,000 jobs.

In September, California had the second-highest unemployment rate in the nation, behind only Nevada with 13.4%. North Dakota had the lowest rate at 3.5%, while the national rate was 9.1%.

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