Oct. 19--The callback of laid-off mine workers on the Iron Range is contributing to improving unemployment rates in the region.

Unemployment rates fell about 1 percent in September in St. Louis, Itasca and Koochiching counties, according to numbers released today.

Duluth's rate dropped slightly, from 7.2 to 7.1 percent. But elsewhere in St. Louis County, Hibbing's rate fell 2.3 percent and Virginia's plummeted 2.7 percent . Both cities' unemployment peaked in June -- Hibbing at 18.7 percent, Virginia with 17 percent.

Kim Baasi, a production truck driver at ArcelorMittal's Minorca Mine in Virginia is among the approximately 150 workers back to work after being laid off in early May.

"It feels good to be back," said Baasi who returned to work Sept. 29. "Life is getting back to normal. We got unemployment, but it's nice to be back and seeing the company moving ahead. That's always a good sign."

The mood at the taconite plant is upbeat, she said.

"People know it could happen again," Baasi said. "It's happened in the past in the mining business, and it could happen again. But people are pretty positive."

Ray Pierce, president of United Steel Workers Local 6515 at Minorca, said workers were concerned about when and if production would start up again. But now that's over.

"All the rumors are gone," he said. "Knowing that they're going to be working, security is there again."

Drew Digby of the Department of Employment and Economic Development said many factors contribute to the improved unemployment rate, including jobs generated by Enbridge Energy's new oil pipeline across Northern Minnesota and the annual October uptick in employment due to seasonal hiring by colleges.

"But the big one is miners going back to work," said Digby, a regional labor market analyst, who sees further improvement ahead for the region.

"Some of the biggest rehiring hasn't happened there yet," he said.

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