ATLANTA — The preliminary unemployment rates in the Coastal Georgia area and metro Savannah rose in July, according to recent information from the Georgia Department of Labor.

Coastal Georgia’s rate was 9.7 percent in July, up 0.1 percent from June’s 9.6 percent. The rate increased because the labor force grew by 3,205 job seekers, and while most found jobs within the month, 771 did not. The rate was 10.1 percent in July 2011.

Meanwhile, the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Savannah was 9.2 percent in July, up 0.2 percent from June’s 9.0 percent. The labor force increased by 2,228 job seekers. Of that number, 418 did not find jobs within the month. The rate was 9.5 percent in July 2011.

Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent in July, up 0.3 percent from June. The jobless rate was 10 percent in July a year ago.