unemployment-lines_fc_web.jpgTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ Florida's unemployment rate has increased slightly again, but a state economist says that's not necessarily bad news.

Figures released Friday show August's jobless rate was 11.7 percent. That's up two tenths of a point from July's 11.5 percent rate which was up a tenth of a point from June's number.

Legislative economist Amy Baker earlier this week predicted another uptick. Baker told a legislative budget panel that the unemployment rate has been going up slightly because economic growth is encouraging labor market dropouts to again hunt for jobs.

People who are neither working nor looking for a job aren't included in unemployment statistics.