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.

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’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.