Honolulu’s unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in August from 5.4 percent in July, causing the city to lose ground in a ranking of metropolitan areas with the nation’s lowest jobless rates, according to a report released Wednesday.

Honolulu had the 21st lowest unemployment rate in August out of 372 metropolitan areas surveyed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That was down from 15th lowest in July.

Honolulu was one of 103 metropolitan areas where the unemployment rate rose in August from July. The jobless rate fell in 237 metro areas and was unchanged in 32.

Metro unemployment rates are not adjusted for seasonal changes, such as students leaving the work force when they return to school in August and September.

Honolulu’s July unadjusted jobless rate compared with rates of 9.6 percent for Hawaii County, 8.6 percent for Kauai County and 7.5 percent for Maui County. The statewide unadjusted rate was 6.5 percent in August. When adjusted for seasonal factors the statewide rate was 6.2 percent.

Honolulu was in a small group of cities mostly in the Plains and the Northeast with unemployment rates below 6 percent in August. Bismark, N.D., had the nation’s lowest jobless rate at 3 percent in August. The job market in North Dakota has been helped by a boom in its oil drilling industry.

El Centro, Calif., topped the list with an unemployment rate of 32.4 percent in August. California accounted for 12 of the nation’s 15 highest unemployment rates in August, according to the BLS.

Nationally, the U.S. economy added no net jobs in August, the least amount of hiring in almost a year. The national unemployment rate held steady at 9.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis for the second consecutive month. Businesses pulled back on hiring during the summer after the government said the economy barely expanded in the first six months of the year.