Mass. unemployment rate up to 8.6 percent

BOSTON—The unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose to 8.6 percent in June, as employers and workers struggled with the ongoing recession.

The state lost 2,300 jobs last month after a revised gain of 5,600 jobs in May.

Education, health services and leisure and hospitality posted the biggest monthly gains in jobs. The largest monthly declines occurred in government, construction, and manufacturing jobs.

Overall, jobs are down by 106,400 or 3.2 percent compared with a year ago.

Despite the steady increase in the jobless rate, Massachusetts is still doing better than the country as a whole.

The national unemployment rate for June was 9.5 percent.