North Dakota's unemployment rate for July was 3.3 percent, a drop from the previous month, Job Service officials said Friday.

The July rate is lower than June's 3.8 percent rate and the 3.8 percent rate in July 2002.

The change in monthly figures reflects the usual seasonal drop between June and July, Job Service officials said.

The state's labor force in July totaled 361,160, with 349,335 people employed. The Job Service said the labor force total was down from 361,793 in June and higher than last July's labor force of 355, 649.

Job Service officials said Logan and Steele counties had the lowest unemployment rates among counties in July, at 1.2 percent. Rolette County's rate was the highest at 17.6 percent.

Among the state's major cities, the Fargo area reported a 2.2 percent unemployment rate in July. Jamestown had 2.4 percent, the Dickinson area 2.6 percent, Williston 3 percent and the Bismarck area 3.4 percent.

The national unemployment rate for July was 6.2 percent. South Dakota was the only state with a July unemployment rate lower than North Dakota's.