The U.S. says that unemployment increased in more than half of its 50 states in July, an indication that job growth in the world's largest economy remains weak.

The government said Friday that the jobless rate increased in 28 states and the nation's capital, Washington, last month. Nine states recorded decreases and the unemployment rate was unchanged in 13 states.

The sluggish U.S. economy produced 117,000 new jobs in July, but that was a smaller monthly number than earlier in the year. That has left about 14 million workers unemployed, with millions more working part-time or at lesser jobs than they would like.

The national jobless rate has stubbornly remained at 9 percent or higher for more than two years. However, the Labor Department said there are regional differences in the U.S., with above-average unemployment in western states and the lowest total in the northeastern sector.

Two western states — California and Nevada — recorded the highest unemployment rates, 12 percent or more. The lowest total — 3.3 percent — was in the rural, Midwestern state of North Dakota.