Jobless rates for August 2012 released by the state Department of Labor show that Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties are up from last year.

Compared to August 2011, Jefferson County’s rate climbed from 8.3 to 8.9 percent in August 2012, Lewis County jumped from 8.0 to 8.6 percent, and St. Lawrence County increased from 10.1 to 10.8 percent.

The rates declined in the north country compared to July 2012, however. Jefferson County dropped from 9.4 to 8.9 percent, Lewis County from 9.0 to 8.6 percent, and St. Lawrence County from 11.1 to 10.8 percent.

The 52-county upstate region also increased in August 2012, as the 7.6 percent rate in August 2011 jumped to 8.5 percent. The August 2012 jobless rate in New York state was 8.8 percent, up from 8.1 percent in August 2011. The national unemployment rate dropped from August 2011, from 9.1 to 8.2 percent.

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