San Diego’s jobless rate just hit a high not seen in three years as the region’s labor force surged. The unemployment rate was 5 percent in August, up from 4.9 percent in July, state labor officials said Friday.

The unemployment rate for San Diego is out and academics note it’s higher than the 4.2% for the national average, but lower than the California statewide unemployment rate of 5.3%.

San Diego County's unemployment rate increased slightly in August, up to 5% from a revised 4.9% in July, and above the year- ago rate of 4.4%,according to figures released Friday by the state Employment Development Department.

Unemployment in the state rose last month, as it has since April, while an influx of new job seekers expanded the pool of available workers, according to a US Labor Department report released Friday. Employers added 1,300 jobs, after shedding 4,100 jobs in July.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday morning that Massachusetts was among 25 states that saw jobless rate increases from a year ago.

Colorado's unemployment rate continued its slow but steady climb in August, rising one-tenth of a percentage point from the month before to hit 4.0%, the Colorado Department of Labor and