HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The latest unemployment numbers again show a slight increase locally. The rate for Hutchinson based on August numbers is 5.7 percent, up from 5.6 percent in July. That number is certainly higher then August of last year when the rate was at 4.7 percent.

However, the Reno County number dropped slightly, standing at 5.3 percent last month compared to 5.4 percent in July. This number is also higher then last year when the number for the county was at 4.4 percent.

The numbers for the surrounding counties were varied with some dropping slightly, others up slightly while the number for Harvey County remained unchanged at 6.4 percent.

The state’s August seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent. This was up from 4.0 percent in July and up from 4.1 percent in August 2015.