MANATEE - Manatee's unemployment rate for May rose slightly from the previous month to 8.3 percent, according to state figures released Friday.

Manatee's April unemployment was 8 percent. The 8.3 percent was lower than Sarasota's unemployment rate of 8.5 percent ,which was down a tenth of a percent from April. Florida's seasonally adjusted rate was 8.6 percent for May, the lowest since December 2008.

But Manatee's 8.3 percent in May was still much improved from a year ago when it was 10.4 percent.

The region's rate was 8.4 percent. Out of a labor force of 302,728, there were 25,380 unemployed residents in the area.

The metro area gained 1,800 jobs over the year, according to state figures. The professional and business services sector gained 900 jobs. The other major industries gaining momentum were education and health services with 700 jobs; manufacturing with 400 jobs; trade, transportation, and utilities with 300 jobs; and government with 200 jobs.

Industries losing jobs over the year included mining, logging, and construction, leisure and hospitality, and other services.