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PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona's jobless rate in May held steady at 8.2 percent, triggering federally required changes that will reduce the length of extended unemployment benefits.

Department of Administration economists report that the May jobless rate was unchanged from April as private sector employers had above-average increases in jobs while public schools had above-average losses.

Separately, the Department of Economic Security says the state's average jobless rate for the past three months has fallen below a threshold triggering federal reductions in so-called "tier four" extended unemployment benefits.

Those benefits provide 16 weeks of coverage. That's after regular coverage and other tiers of extended coverage.

The changes mean people not getting those benefits now either won't get them at all or will get them for shorter periods.