Marion County’s unemployment rate has returned to nearly the same level as it was in July after a sharp spike in August. The county’s unemployment rate is at 5.7 percent for the month of September, down from 9.6 percent in August. The sharp changes over a one month period were likely due to employment data being off during a month that included rolling layoffs and temporary shutdowns. 5.7 percent unemployment in Marion County compares to 6.7 percent in the state and 9.8 percent nationwide.