AUGUSTA — Maine officials say the unemployment rate was 4.6 percent in July and was little changed from the month before.

The Maine Department of Labor said Friday that the jobless rate last month was down from 4.7 percent in June.

The July rate was down from 5.7 percent a year ago. The number of people who were unemployed declined 7,500 over the year to 32,000.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, which was unchanged from June.

In New England, the average jobless rate was 4.7 percent. Vermont had the lowest rate among the six states at 3.6 percent and Rhode Island had the highest rate at 5.8 percent.