Vermont's unemployment rate rose by .3 percent to 3.7 percent in July. It's the second straight monthly increase, following a .1 percent jump in June.
In a news release, Vermont Department of Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan said the increase, “mirrors the same trend we saw last summer in Vermont and we hope this will resolve as we move forward into early fall.”
Last year, the unemployment rate rose .2 percent from May to July, remaining at a high of 4.5 percent before dropping in October.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 30 states recorded unemployment rate increases in July, eight states had decreases, and 12 states and the District of Columbia had no change.
Based on the July unemployment figures, Vermont and South Dakota have the fourth lowest rates in the nation. Utah, Nebraska and North Dakota have lower rates.
The overall unemployment rate for the nation in July was 6.2 percent.
The monthly unemployment figure, known as the U-3 rate is one of a number of measures of joblessness.
The U-3 is a survey of those who are unemployed but looking for work.
A broader indicator, called the U-6 rate, also includes individuals who have given up looking for jobs and those who are working part time because they can't find full time work. The most recent U-6 rate for Vermont, released earlier this year, is 8.5 percent.
