Tennessee’s unemployment rate for September has dropped below the national rate for the first time in six years. James Neely, commissioner of labor and work force development, said the state’s unemployment rate for September was 9.4 percent, down two tenths of a percent from August. September’s national rate of 9.6 percent, unchanged from the previous month. Neely said the last time the state rate was below the national rate was in July 2004. Job gains in Tennessee were in government; private educational and health services; and administrative, support and waste services. Job losses were in leisure and hospitality, federal government and wholesale trade.