COLUMBUS — COLUMBUS — Unemployment rates in Dayton and Montgomery County increased slightly in October after decreasing or holding steady for the previous three months, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported on Tuesday.

The Dayton rate increased to 12.2 percent, up from 11.9 percent in September, while the Montgomery County rate increased to 10.9 percent from 10.7 percent in September.

Both rates were lower than those a year ago when Montgomery County’s rate was 11.7 percent and Dayton’s was 12.9 percent.

Statewide, rates increased in October in 71 of 88 counties. The rates went up in all Miami Valley counties except Warren, which stayed the same at 8.5 percent and the region’s lowest.

Ben Johnson, ODJFS spokesman, said the slight increases could be due to the end of seasonal employment in job categories, such as construction, or to a loss of local government jobs in some cities and counties.

The county rates ranged from a low of 6.8 percent in Geauga County, east of Cleveland, and Holmes County, south of Canton, to a high of 15.8 percent in Clinton County, still feeling the effects of DHL-related job losses.

In the Dayton area, Montgomery County’s 10.9 percent was the highest among counties . Among area cities, Trotwood’s 12.4 percent was the highest, while Mason’s 7.6 percent rate was the lowest.

The unemployment rates for cities and counties are not seasonally adjusted. The not-seasonally-adjusted October rate for the state was 9.5 percent, down from 9.6 percent in September. The state seasonally adjusted rate for October, released last week, was 9.9 percent.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.