MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s unemployment rate has risen for the third month to 9.9 percent.

State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees says June’s increase is due to hundreds of Alabamians still being unemployed because of the April tornadoes, an increase in the national unemployment rate, and more discouraged workers re-entering the job market to seek jobs.

Alabama recorded its lowest unemployment rate of the year in March when the Industrial Relations Department reported 9.2 percent. Then the rate rose to 9.3 percent in April, 9.6 percent in May and now 9.9 percent.

Counties with the lowest rates are Shelby at 7.7 percent, Coffee at 8.4 percent, and Limestone at 8.7 percent. Counties with the highest rates are Wilcox at 23.4 percent, Perry at 19.9 percent, and Dallas at 19.1 percent.