Unemployment rates rose in Butler County in September for the third straight month, but remain low.

New estimates from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Center for Workforce Information and Analysis put Butler County's September unemployment rate at 3.8 percent, up 0.2 percent from August. Similar increases were felt statewide, according to the center's analyst Lauren Riegel.

“I'm not concerned yet because, frankly, the rate was so low earlier this year,” Riegel said. “It was such a low rate, it was going to be hard to maintain. It isn't raising a red flag for me at this point.”

Of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, Butler County tied for the 13th lowest unemployment rate in September. Only one metropolitan statistical area didn't increase — State College — but even that area maintained its existing 2.9 percent rate.

Earlier this year, Butler County hit 3.2 percent unemployment. That was its all-time low rate since the 1970s.

Overall, the state's unemployment rate increased from 3.9 percent to 4 percent in September. The national rate decreased from 3.7 to 3.5 percent.

Butler County's 3.8 percent unemployment is identical to its rate from September 2018.

The data center provides seasonally adjusted unemployment estimates that account for usual annual changes in jobs markets. The center simultaneously publishes industry specific job data for each metropolitan area that's been seasonally adjusted.

In the seven counties included in Pittsburgh's metropolitan area, the number of jobs increased by 2,400, or 0.2 percent, according to the new figures.

“We are starting to see a little more volatility from month to month, but jobs are still growing on the long term,” Riegel said.

Overall, Riegel is unmoved by the new data.

“In terms of both these indicators, they're both showing a little more volatility, but they are both still moving in the right direction,” she said.