Rock County unemployment dropped a bit in September as we begin to turn to the holiday season.

Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board CEO Rhonda Suda says the county’s rate was at 3.6%, a little higher than the state average of 3.1%, with Janesville having an unemployment rate of 3.5% while Beloit sat at 4.5%.

Suda says they’ll usually see an increase in jobs, and thus lower unemployment numbers, in November and December because of seasonal consumer habits and more seasonal retail jobs becoming available.

Suda says in years past the rate will dip in December but then spike back up in January when those season holiday jobs are no longer available.