State Unemployment Up for First Time in 12 mos.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida's unemployment rate increased for the first time in a year from 8.6 percent to 8.8 percent in July.

Out of a labor force of 9,269,000, there were 816,000 Floridians without jobs . The July 2012 rate was 1.8 percentage points lower than the year-ago rate of 10.6 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in July.

According to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity the state lost 3,300 jobs in July.

Unemployment in Bay area counties were all slightly higher in July and all just above the state average:

Hillsborough Co. was up to 9.2 in July from 8.8 in June.

Pinellas Co. was up to 8.9 in July from 8.6 in June.

Pasco Co. was up to 10.3 in July from 10.0 in June.

Polk Co. was up to 10.6 in July from 10.0 in June.

Manatee Co. was up to 9.7 in July from 9.0 in June.

Hernando Co. was up to 11.3 in July from 11.1 in June.