Joblessness fell in 41 states and the nation’s capital in September, as employers added jobs in most of those states, the Labor Department said Friday.

The national unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 7.8% from 8.1% in September from August, and Friday’s data showed that most states followed the national trend. South Carolina, California, Hawaii, Louisiana and Utah posted the biggest drops in unemployment. In California, the rate fell to 10.2% from 10.6%.

Several states that are being fiercely contested in the presidential campaign also saw declines. Nevada’s rate fell to 11.8% from 12.1%, though it still led the nation in joblessness. Colorado’s ticked down to 8.0% from 8.2%. Florida’s rate fell to 8.7% from 8.8%. Iowa’s dropped to 5.2% from 5.5%.