MONTPELIER — The Vermont Department of Labor says the state’s unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of 1 percent in October to 5.5 percent.

The figure is up from 5.4 percent in September and 5.4 percent in October 2011. The national unemployment rate for October was 7.9 percent.

Despite the increase, Vermont still has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

The statistics show the total labor force in Vermont increased last month for the second straight month.

Seasonally adjusted data for October shows total employment increased by 700 last month while total unemployment increased by 200.

Unemployment in Vermont’s 17 labor market areas ranged from 3.3 percent in Hartford to 6.2 percent in Newport and Rutland.