There were fewer unemployed people looking for work in Missouri and Kansas in September than in August, but the job creation picture was mixed.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the jobless rate in Kansas fell to 5.9 percent in September, down from 6.2 percent in August and down from 6.7 percent in September a year ago.

The seasonally adjusted report said unemployment in Missouri fell to 6.9 percent in September, down from 7.2 percent in August and down from 8.5 percent in September 2011.

But according to the report, released Friday, the number of jobs on Missouri-side payrolls grew by about 2,500 from August to September, while jobs on the Kansas side slipped by about 1,400.

Over the year, though, both states recorded employment gains.

There were about 1,348,100 workers drawing paychecks in Kansas last month, compared to 1,337,900 a year earlier.

In Missouri, payroll employment in September totaled about 2,657,200, compared to 2,645,800 a year ago.

Nationally, the bureau said, 41 states had lower unemployment rates in September 2012 than September 2011.