A new report says the Kansas unemployment rate edged higher in May, but the state also saw modest growth in private-sector jobs over the past year.

The state Labor Department says the jobless rate stood at 5.7 percent last month, up from 5.6 percent in April but down from 6.1 percent in May 2012.

The report also says private companies employed about 14,400 more workers last month than in May 2012, an increase of 1.3 percent.

The biggest percentage increase over the year was 5.4 percent in professional and business services. Employment grew by 8,300, reaching nearly 161,000 last month.

Manufacturing firms also added 3,000 jobs, increasing employment over the year by 1.8 percent. The department says workers have seen their hours increase consistently for several months.