The number of Belmont residents who are unemployed fell for the second consecutive month, staying at approximately half the national level for a better part of two years.

According to the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, 579 Belmont residents were unemployed at the end of August, a 4.3 percent rate.

The unemployment rate fell from 4.4 percent in July, indicating that a net of 15 residents found work in the month.

The jump in employment resulted in the number of Belmont residents with jobs increasing to more than 13,000 at 13,032.

The 4.3 percent is below the 6.4 percent for the state and the US's 8.1 percent.

The September rate for the national level has been released nationally, showing the rate falling to 7.8 percent.

In the past year, a net of 110 residents found work when the unemployment rate hovered at 5.2 percent and 689 people were looking for work.