WASHINGTON (CBSDC/AP) — The unemployment rate in the District of Columbia has dropped to 8.9 percent.

The District’s unemployment figure for July was released Friday. It’s down from 9.1 percent in June and is the lowest unemployment figure for the nation’s capital since February 2009.

Nationally, the Labor Department says unemployment rates rose in 44 states in July, and the national unemployment rate ticked up to 8.3 percent from 8.2 percent. Besides the District, only two states saw falling unemployment rates.

The District added 13,100 jobs in July, and the number of unemployed District residents fell by 600.

Mayor Vincent Gray says diversification in the private sector is largely responsible for the District’s falling rate. He says his administration will continue encouraging growth in sectors like technology, health care and hospitality.

The unemployment rate rose for the second time in as many months in neighboring Virginia.

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