WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates rose last month in 23 states and fell in 19 as the economy struggled to create jobs in the early stages of recovery.

The Labor Department says Nevada, Rhode Island and Florida in September posted their highest jobless rates on records dating to 1976.

Michigan reported the nation’s highest unemployment rate at 15.3 percent. It was followed by Nevada at 13.3 percent, Rhode Island at 13 percent, California at 12.2 percent and South Carolina at 11.6 percent.

There were some bright spots: Ohio and Indiana, two states hit hard by the downturn in manufacturing, reported significant drops in unemployment.

The jobless rate in the Midwest fell to 9.8 percent last month from 10 percent in August. It was the only region where the unemployment rate dropped.