A lackluster economy and more people seeking work led to Mercer County's unemployment rate rising to 5.3 percent in May from April's 5.1 percent rate.

The local jobless rate was below the state's 5.7 percent and national 5.8 percent rates. A year ago the county's jobless rate was 6.3 percent.

Mercer County ranked 10th among the state's 43 labor market areas in terms of the best unemployment rate and was 22nd, tied with Delaware County, among the state's 67 counties.

Figures for May show the county's civilian labor force was 58,400, up from 58,100 in April while those employed grew slightly to 55,300 from 55,200 over the same period.

Those unemployed climbed by 100 to 3,100 from April to May.