Unemployment rates inched up last month across Northeast Alabama, according to the latest stats released by the State Department of Labor.

Here in Cherokee County, the jobless rate checked in at 5.9-percent last month, up from 5.9-percent in July, but still lower than the 7.4-percent reported in August of 2012.

In neighboring Dekalb County, the unemployment rate was 7.1-percent, up one-tenths of a percent from 7-percent in July. It was 8.7-percent in August of last year.

Etowah County’s unemployment rate was 6.7-percent last month, up from 6.3-percent the month before but still better than the 7.9-percent reported this time last year.

Calhoun County also saw a slight increase from 7.5-percent in July to 7.6-percent in August. The jobless rate was 8.3-percent in August of 2012.

The statewide unemployment rate was 6.3-percent, up from 6.2-percent.

Nationally, the jobless rate improved from 7.4-percent in July to 7.3-percent in August.