Unemployment in Los Angeles County dropped to 4.8 percent in September, reversing a fourth-month cycle of rising or stagnant labor market conditions.

Although the 4.8 figure represents the lowest level since June, unemployment remains at the same level as September 2005, according to data released on Friday by the California Employment Development Department.

Nine of the 11 industrial sectors showed job growth in the last year, according to a separate EDD survey of employers. Education and health services increased payrolls by 10,900 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 8,900 jobs. Other growth sectors included professional and business services (5,100), government (5,000), transportation and utilities (4,300), finance (2,300) and construction (up 500).

On the downside, manufacturing continued its slow decline in the county by losing 3,600 jobs in the last year. Meanwhile, the information sector which includes media, entertainment and software — reported no change.

Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said that for the state as a whole, manufacturing has started to grow again, adding jobs in the San Francisco Bay area and in Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

He also notes L.A. has a lot of activity that doesn’t get captured by state unemployment numbers. For example, truckers at the major southland ports and professionals in the entertainment business often work as independent contractors, not employees. Trade volume and other data point to healthy economics in both sectors.

Overall, statewide unemployment in California was 4.8 percent last month, compared to an estimated U.S. unemployment rate of 4.6 percent.