State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia area increased to 10.7 percent in August, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 10.6 percent in July. The jobless rate in the area in August a year ago was also 10.7 percent.

The lowest area rates, at 7.8 percent, were recorded in Athens and Warner Robins, while the highest, at 12.7 percent, was in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha area near Dublin. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in July, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 10.1 percent in July. The state’s jobless rate was also 10.2 percent in August a year ago. The increase is because about 5,500 new job seekers, as well as more of those already unemployed, were unable to find work.

August marked the 49th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.1 percent, unchanged from July.   

Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us