The new numbers from the Kansas Department of Labor show the unemployment rate in Hutchinson jumped to 7.8% in August, compared to 7.4% in July, and 7.5% in August of last year. Those numbers show 1-thousand, 656-local residents were looking for work during the month of August.

Reno County also saw an increase in the unemployment rate at 6.4% in August, compared with a 6.1% unemployment rate in July, and 6.2% in August of last year.

Surrounding counties also saw increases, including Harvey County jumping to 7.4% compared with 6.6% in July, but at the same rate as it was in August of 2010.

Kingman County also went back to the same rate as in August of last year at 5.8%, compared with 5.2% in July.

McPherson County’s rate is slightly higher then it was a year ago, when it was at 5.3%. This past month, their rate was at 5.4%, compared with 4.8% in July.

Pratt County sees their rate for August at 5.1%, compared with 4.9% in July, and August of last year.

Rice County’s rate is at 5.6%, up from 5.4% in July, and 5.5% in August of 2010.

The rate in Stafford County for August stands at 5.9%, up from 5.7% in July and 5.4% in August of last year.

And finally, Sedgwick County with its much larger population went from 8% in July to 8.3% in August. But, that rate is still much lower then August of last year when their unemployment rate was at 8.8%.

The unemployment rate for Kansas is at 6.9% in August, up slightly from 6.8% in July, but lower then in August of last year when the rate statewide was at 7.1%.

The August 2011 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.7 percent, up from 6.5 percent in July 2011 and down from 7.0 percent in August 2010.

According to August 2011 estimates, Kansas gained 2,500 private sector jobs over the month. Overall, Kansas gained 2,100 non-farm jobs over the month, a 0.2 percent increase.

Over the year, Kansas has lost 1,700 non-farm jobs, but private sector jobs were up by 3,100 since August 2010.