Area jobless rate above U.S.

Unemployment rose last month to 10.2 percent in Georgia - the highest rate in six months - while the jobless rate fell slightly in Tennessee to 9.7 percent, according to government figures released Thursday.

Both states exceeded the U.S. jobless rate of 9.1 percent in August.

Tennessee Labor Commissioner Karla Davis says there's a "balance of seasonal hires and layoffs" each year from July to August. She says jobs related to education have started back and temporary hires for the summer are ending.

Last month was the first month in a year to record a drop in Tennessee's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

In Georgia, Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said unemployment rose in August from the previous month and matched the jobless rate of a year ago.

Butler said the jobless numbers increased because about 5,500 new job seekers, as well as more of those already unemployed, were unable to find work.

August marked the 49th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate.

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