Two positive takeaways from Indiana’s August employment report: The state’s unemployment rate last month fell to its lowest level in 18 months, and the number of unemployment insurance claims dropped to their lowest level this year.

Indiana’s jobless rate dipped in August to a preliminary 3.3% from 3.4% in July, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. The rate in Indiana hasn’t been that low since February 2018, when it stood at 3.3% for three consecutive months starting in December 2017.

In addition, the number of Hoosiers filing for unemployment benefits in August dropped to 14,048, the lowest amount in a single month so far this year.

The unemployment rate has decreased 7.3 percentage points since July 2009, the low point of employment, ranking 8th in the nation.