WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (AP) The Connecticut Labor Department says employers added 3,600 jobs last month, the eighth monthly gain this year as the state continues its jobs recovery from the worst recession in decades.

The state said Thursday that the unemployment rate of 6.4 percent was unchanged from September.

Employment in the state has grown by 23,000 jobs over the year. Connecticut has recovered 87,900 jobs, or nearly 74 percent of jobs lost during the March 2008 to February 2010 downturn.

The state says Connecticut's jobs recovery has extended 56 months and has averaged about 1,570 jobs a month since February 2010.

Education and health services led the jobs gains, followed by trade, transportation and utilities.

A loss of 1,300 government jobs was the largest number among sectors where jobs disappeared.