DENVER (AP) -- Colorado's unemployment rate has climbed two-tenths of a percentage point to hit 7.8 percent in July.

The state Department of Labor and Employment said Friday the increase was minor and may mean Colorado's economy is stabilizing.

After seasonal adjustments, the number of Coloradans with jobs fell 14,500 in July to just under 2.5 million. That's nearly 116,000 fewer than a year earlier.

The number of government jobs fell 18,000 in July while the number of construction jobs rose by 3,000.

A new law allowing casinos to stay open 24 hours and offer new games helped add 2,300 jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector.

The national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent in July.

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