The number of people signing on for unemployment assistance and benefit rose by just over 5% last month to just over 170,000, according to new figures.
Compared to July last year, the figure is down just over 4%, or 8,000 people.
The numbers on the Live Register normally increase in July as many workers in the education sector sign on.
When these seasonal factors are taken into account, the unemployment rate increased marginally from 4.3% in June to 4.4% last month.
