Statistics Canada says the Kootenay jobless rate fell to 6.4 per cent in November from 7.1 per cent in October.
About 1,000 more people were working in the region compared to the previous month. Another 5,000 people were still looking for work. At the same time last year, the unemployment rate was 8.8 per cent.
The local rate, which covers both the East and West Kootenays, is now lower than the provincial rate of seven per cent, and the national rate, which rose to 7.4 per cent.