Topeka ? The Kansas jobless rate rose a tenth of a point in July to 4.9 percent as the number of people employed fell slightly and new claims for unemployment rose.

Still, that seasonally adjusted number is down from the 5.6 percent jobless rate posted in July 2013, but it is still significantly higher than the pre-recession low of 4.0 percent recorded in early 2008.

Over the year, the total number of people employed in Kansas has grown by nearly 22,000, or 1.5 percent.

“Several signs demonstrate continuing economic strength in the Kansas economy,” said Kansas Labor Secretary Lana Gordon. “Since last month, Kansas has gained 900 seasonally adjusted private sector jobs, a 0.1 percent increase.”

The Kansas unemployment rate stood at 4.9 percent in July. That down from the 5.6 percent a year ago, but still above he pre-recession low of 4.0 percent in early 2008.

Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that tries to measure and remove the effects of predictable seasonal patterns such as school schedules, weather changes, harvests and major holidays to show how employment and unemployment change from month to month.

On a non-adjusted basis, the July unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, up from 5.1 percent in June and down from 6 percent last year.

In his re-election campaign, Gov. Sam Brownback, a Republican, has touted the job growth in Kansas, particularly in the private sector. Last month, he used the numbers to say there were more Kansans employed than at any time in the state’s history.

That claim was based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ unemployment survey, which is a household survey that counts the number of people employed, including those who are self-employed, plus those who are unemployed and seeking a job. That survey also showed the size of the Kansas labor force was near its all-time high.

Another survey of employment, hours and earnings, commonly known as the “jobs report,” counts the number of payroll jobs in an area and excludes those who are self-employed.

By that measure, the number of payroll jobs in Kansas, at about 1.34 million, is higher than it was when Brownback took office, but still below the pre-recession peak of May 2008.