Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to a six-year low of 4.2 percent in September as it fell for the second consecutive month.

The last time the state’s jobless rate dropped lower was during the early stages of the recession in July 2008 when it was 4.1 percent.

Hawaii’s labor force, which includes those who are employed and others who are unemployed but actively seeking work, rose to a record 665,950, according to data released Monday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Last month’s numbers were an improvement over August when the jobless rate was 4.3 percent and there were 662,700 in the labor force.

The U.S. unemployment rate, which was released earlier this month, was 5.9 percent for September.