Kansas officials say the state’s jobless rate edged lower to 6.2 percent in August.

The state Department of Labor reported Friday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 6.3 percent in July and 6.7 percent in August 2011.

The latest report also said that almost 18,000 more people held non-farm jobs in Kansas last month than in August 2011, an increase of 1.3 percent. Hiring by private companies was slightly stronger, growing by 1.5 percent, or almost 17,000 jobs, over the year.

The department reported that claims for unemployment benefits were down from July and from August 2011.