August 21, 2012 (HYANNIS) _ The unemployment picture continues to improve on Cape Cod.

According to the state Office of Labor and Workforce Development – the jobless rate in Barnstable County last month was 5.4%.

That’s down from 6.4% a year ago at the same time – and down from 5.6% in June.

The number of people employed increased by nearly 3,000 people in the past year. The unemployment rate also declined on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

Nantucket had the lowest jobless rate in July at 2.9%.