ATLANTA (AP) — State labor officials say Georgia's unemployment rate has risen to 7.8 percent.

The Georgia Department of Labor on Thursday announced the new jobless figure, which is up from 7.4 percent in June.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the increase is mostly due to temporary, seasonal layoffs in local government and manufacturing.

Butler said the state's employment picture is continuing to show positive signs. He said private employers in the state created 8,200 jobs in July.