COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH, AP) -- South Carolina's jobless rate has fallen for the sixth straight month, but state officials say the drop is mostly because thousands of people stopped looking for work.

The state Department of Employment and Workforce said Tuesday that South Carolina's unemployment rate was 9.3 percent in January. That's still a full percentage point higher than the national jobless rate of 8.3 percent.

The number of unemployed persons was estimated at 200,190, the lowest level since November 2008.

The agency says the state drop is mostly because about 7,900 people stopped looking for jobs.

“As I’ve stated in the past, the continued decline in the unemployment rate is something for South Carolinians to be excited about, and we know from the SC Works system that the jobs are out there,” said SC Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director Abraham J. Turner. “It is incumbent upon us, however, to continue to work diligently with businesses to identify the skills necessary to match jobseekers to those jobs.”

In December, the state's unemployment rate plunged to its lowest rate in three years as an improving economy had employers putting more people to work making, moving and selling goods. The revised 9.6 percent rate was down from 9.9 percent in November.

“Nothing motivates us to continue fighting for tax relief and a competitive business climate like seeing this number drop. We’re going to keep fighting until every South Carolinian who wants a job has a job,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.

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(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)