The unemployment rate for the seven-county Pittsburgh region jumped to 4.6 percent in August, up from 4.3 percent the prior month, but remained below year-ago levels, according to the latest data from the state Department of Labor and Industry.

In August a year ago, the area jobless rate stood at 5 percent.

Despite the upturn, the latest figure is "still a very good rate overall," labor market analyst Lauren Nimel said. "Being under 5 percent is pretty great."

Among the state's 67 counties, all but two saw their jobless rates rise in August, according to the report. Statewide, the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent in August vs. 4.6 percent for the nation.

In the Pittsburgh region, Butler County posted the lowest rate at 4.3 percent while Fayette County was highest at 6.3 percent. The jobless rate in Allegheny County was 4.4 percent, up from 4 percent in July.

The region added 3,900 jobs in August compared with the same month a year earlier, the 19th consecutive month of gains.

The majority of the gains came in education and health services, which have shown year-over-year growth in every month since September 1995.