ATLANTA—State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Savannah increased to 9.5 percent in August, up two-tenth of a percentage point from 9.3 percent in July. The jobless rate in metro Savannah in August a year ago was also 9.3 percent.

Unemployment in Effingham County for August was 8.3 percent.

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

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

The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia area was unchanged at 9.9 percent from July to August. The jobless rate in the Coastal Georgia area in August a year ago was 9.6 percent.

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.

Of Georgia’s 159 counties, eight had unemployment rates of 8 percent or lower for August. There were 113 counties with unemployment rates of at least 10 percent.

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.