Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell to 5.5 percent in October, the lowest level in nearly four years, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported today.

The October rate compared with a 5.7 percent jobless rate in September. The October rate was the lowest since November 2008 when it was 5.3 percent, according to the report.

There were 35,550 unemployed workers in October, down from 36,650 in September. The number of employed, meanwhile, rose by 3,000 to 606,950.

Nationally, the unemployment rate rose to 7.9 percent in October from 7.8 percent in September. The state and national numbers are adjusted for seasonal variations, such as teachers returning to the workforce after the summer break.

On an unadjusted basis the jobless rate fell in all counties except for Honolulu. The unemployment rate declined to 7.5 percent from 7.9 percent in Hawaii County, to 5.7 percent from 6.0 percent in Maui County and to 6.5 percent from 6.8 percent in Kauai County. The jobless rate was unchanged at 5 percent in Honolulu County.