MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's preliminary unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in July, up from 7.8 percent in June.

Department of Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees announced the new jobless figures in a statement Friday.

He said the state's jobless rate represents 179,535 unemployed persons, compared to 168,602 last month and 202,311 in July 2011.

Surtees says the state agency sees more partial unemployment claims in July and December than any other month, and last month was no exception.

Partial unemployment claims, which are filed by workers who have been laid off for a period less than three weeks, increased in July to 9,259. That's up significantly from the 2,570 recorded in May and 3,181 in June.