Unemployment rates fell or held steady last month in nine key swing states at the center of this year's presidential election.

Rates dropped in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina. They were unchanged in New Hampshire and Virginia.

Six of the nine swing states gained jobs last month: Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Virginia, which is considered one of the most crucial states in play because of its 13 electoral votes, added 11,500 jobs last month. That was the most of any swing state. The unemployment rate remained 5.9 percent, far below the national average.

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