The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Albany rose to 10.3 percent in June, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from 9.6 percent in May. The rate was 10.9 percent in June 2011.

The rate increased because the labor force grew by 635 job seekers and 617 of that number did not find jobs. Also, there were 130 new layoffs in manufacturing industries.

Metro Athens and metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rates at 7.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 12.3 percent. Athens has had the lowest area rate, or tied for the lowest, each month since December 2009. Dalton has had the highest area rate since August 2011.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.0 percent in June, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.9 percent in May, the first increase in almost a year. The jobless rate was 9.9 percent in June a year ago.

The number of jobs in the state dropped by 8,200, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,941,500 in May to 3,933,300 in June. However, jobs were up by 45,200 from 3,888,100 in June 2011.

In metro Albany, jobs increased to 60,200, up by 200 from May, but down by 200 from 60,400 in June 2011.