The unemployment rates in Columbia and Greene counties again declined from August 2012 to August 2013, according to data released by the New York State Labor Department Tues., Sept. 24. In Greene County, the jobless rate dropped from 8.8 percent to 7.3 percent; unemployment decreased in Columbia County from 7.2 percent to 6 percent. The downward trend was repeated throughout the Hudson Valley. Unemployment rates also fell in Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties. As the department reported last week, the statewide unemployment rate was 7.6 percent in August. Statewide the private sector job count increased by more than 125,000 between August 2012 and August 2013. The lowest unemployment rate was reported by Hamilton County, located in the north central part of the state.