ATLANTA (AP) — State labor officials say Georgia's unemployment rate increased to 8.6 percent in June.

The new seasonally adjustment jobless rate was announced early Thursday morning by the Georgia Department of Labor.

The June unemployment rate was up three-tenths of a percentage point from 8.3 percent in May. However, it remained under the 9.1 percent in June a year ago.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the rate increased partly because a large number of education workers are unemployed during the summer, and new graduates are considered unemployed until they find a job.