OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma's unemployment increased slightly last month, but state employment officials say it's likely because more discouraged workers are returning to the job search.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported Oklahoma's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October increased by .2 percentage points to 6.1 percent. The rate is still significantly lower than the national rate, which remains at 9 percent.

OESC spokesman John Carpenter says officials theorize the increase is the result of more unemployed workers actively looking for work. In order to be considered unemployed, a person must be both unemployed and seeking a job.

Oklahoma's unemployment rate stood at 6.9 percent in October 2010. It has increased steadily since May, when the rate was at 5.3 percent.