(AP) — A new report says Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate in January hit 3.5 percent, its lowest mark since September 2008.

The rate was a tenth of a point under the 3.6 percent in December and four-tenths of a point below the January 2013 rate of 3.9 percent.

The state Department of Labor released the employment data on Friday.

The new Nebraska figure remained well below the national unemployment rate of 6.6 percent in January.