The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Albany’s unemployment rate increased to 10.2 percent in June, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from 9.5 percent in May. The rate was also 10.2 percent in June a year ago.

The rate increased primarily because of two seasonal factors: large numbers of education workers are unemployed during the summer and new graduates are considered unemployed until they find a job.

While the jobless rate increased, the number of jobs in metro Albany grew by 200, or three-tenths of a percentage point, from 60,800 in May to 61,000. While 400 jobs were lost in state government, 600 jobs were added in the private sector, mostly in the service-related industries.

Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 300, or five-tenths of a percentage point, from 60,700 in June 2012. The job gains came in service-related industries in the private sector, while 800 jobs were lost in government.

The labor force, which is the number of people employed plus those unemployed but actively looking for work, rose to 73,982 in June, up by 321 from 73,661 in May. It was down by 758 from 74,740 in June 2012.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 7.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 12.9 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for June was 8.6 percent, up from 8.3 percent in May. The rate was 9.1 percent in June a year ago.