June unemployment rates in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties were higher than June 2011, according to figures released yesterday by the state Department of Labor.

Compared to June 2011, Jefferson County’s rate jumped from 8.9 to 9.6 percent, Lewis County climbed from 8.9 to 9.6 percent and St. Lawrence County increased from 10.7 to 11.0 percent.

June’s unemployment figures in Jefferson and Lewis counties slightly dropped from May 2012, from 9.7 to 9.6 percent in Jefferson and 9.9 to 9.6 in Lewis. St. Lawrence County’s June rate increased from May, though, from 10.3 to 11.0 percent; that figure is tied with two other counties as the second highest rate in New York state.

Jobless numbers this June for the 52-county region in upstate New York also signficantly jumped compared to June 2011 from 7.9 to 8.7 percent. Statewide, the jobless rate increased from 8.1 to 9.1 percent. That rate’s also up from 8.6 percent in May 2012.

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