DENVER - Colorado's unemployment rate rose 0.1 percent to 7.9 percent in April, according to the latest employment report from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

The increase in the unemployment rate was caused by an increase in the number of unemployed and a decline in the number of people participating in the labor force, according to a press release from the state.

The national unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percent to 8.1 percent during the same period.

For the year, the unemployment rate is down 0.5 percent from 8.4 percent in April 2011. The national unemployment rate declined from 9 percent to 8.1 percent from April 2011 to April 2012.

The unemployment rate is based on a survey of households.