Vermont’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of 1 percent in October to 5.5 percent.
The figure is up from the five-point-four percent rate recorded both in September and in October 2011.
Despite the rise, Vermont’s unemployment is still significantly below the national rate of 7.9 percent in October.
The Department of Labor says the statistics show the total labor force in the state increased last month for the second consecutive month.
Seasonally adjusted data for October shows total employment increased by 700 last month while total unemployment increased by 200.
Unemployment in Vermont’s 17 labor market areas ranged from 3.3 percent in Hartford to 6.2 percent in Newport and Rutland.