Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced Friday that Alabama’s July 2011 unemployment rate rose to 10 percent, up slightly from June’s rate of 9.9 and the 9.2 percent recorded a year ago.

Marengo County’s rate dropped .6 percent to 13.4 for the month of July; down from 14 percent posted in June but still up from the 12.8 percent posted in July 2010.

July’s rate represents 215,902 unemployed persons statewide, compared to 213,886 last month and 194,194 in July 2010. The county’s rate represents 1,044 out of work residents.

“While we are disappointed to report any increase in our seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, we are encouraged by the jobs coming into the state,” Surtees said. “There are significantly more Alabamians working in July than in January this year.

In addition, we continue to see more discouraged workers resuming their job search, with more unemployed active job seekers in July. So while we have seen more jobs, we have also seen more job seekers as well.”

Even at more than 13 percent, Marengo County’s jobless rate is still among the lowest in the region. Only Hale County (12.7 percent) is lower.