Utah's unemployment rate held firm at 3.5 percent in August as the labor market has seen steady, moderate growth.

Utah's Department of Workforce Services on Friday announced the new jobless rate, which has remained for years lower than the national rate.

The nationwide unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a percentage point last month to 4.4 percent.

Workforce Services chief economist Carrie Mayne says the unemployment rate has increased in Utah from earlier this year when it hovered around 3.1 percent but employers are adding more jobs.

There were about 54,600 Utah residents in August who were unemployed but looking for work.