Unemployment rates in most North Carolina counties, including New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender, experienced nominal increases in July compared to June, according to preliminary state data released Tuesday.

But year over year, the July rates were slightly lower, down from 6.2 percent last July to 5.8 in the same period this year in New Hanover; 7.5 to 7.2 in Brunswick; and 7.4 to 6.5 in Pender, according to the latest state numbers, which are not seasonally adjusted.

The release from the N.C. Department of Commerce Labor and Economic Analysis Division said when it comes to estimates that are not seasonally adjusted, it's advisable to focus on over-the-year changes.

Net employment rose 2.8 percent this July over last year in the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of New Hanover and Pender counties only, the release said. That equates to the addition of 3,200 jobs compared to last July, the state's MSA breakdown shows. Over the month, net industry employment decreased in all 15 of the state's MSAs, down 1.1 percent in Wilmington.

The preliminary unemployment rate for the Wilmington MSA in July was 5.9 percent, according to the release.