State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Albany increased to 10.8 percent in August, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 10.7 percent in July. The jobless rate in metro Albany in August a year ago was 11.1 percent.

The rate increased because there were layoffs in manufacturing, retail trade, and administrative and support services.

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 August, 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.