TIMES ALBANY BUREAU

ALBANY — New York's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 5.3 percent in June, up from 5.2 percent in May, according to figures released Thursday by the state Labor Department. The rate was 4.6 percent in June 2007.

Nationally, the rate was 5.5 percent in June, unchanged from May and up from 4.6 percent in June 2007.

Excluding New York City, the rest of the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in June, unchanged from May and up from 4.2 percent in June 2007.

According to the seasonally unadjusted numbers for individual area counties, St. Lawrence had the highest June unemployment rate at 6.9 percent, up from 6.6 percent in May and up from 5.7 percent in June 2007.

Jefferson County posted an unemployment rate of 5.8 percent for June, down from 6.1 percent in May but up from 4.6 percent in June 2007.

Lewis County's unemployment rate for June was 5.4 percent, down from 5.7 percent in May but up from 4.2 percent in June 2007.

The state's educational and health services sector led yearly job gains with an increase of 33,400, while government added 17,200 jobs and the leisure and hospitality sector added 7,400 jobs between June 2007 and this June. The manufacturing industry led job declines with 17,900 lost during the same period.

Complete New York State unemployment data for June 2008 is available online at: www.

labor.state.ny.us/workforce

industrydata/Pressreleases/

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