The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Warner Robins’ unemployment rate decreased to 6.5 percent in January, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 6.7 percent in December. Warner Robins was one of three of the 14 metro areas where the rate declined in January. The rate was 7.6 percent in January a year ago.

The rate declined primarily because the number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, decreased to 533, down by 336, or 38.7 percent, from 869 in December. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing and accommodations and food services. There were 576 claims in January 2013.

At the same time, the number of jobs in Metro Warner Robins decreased to 58,300, down by 600, or 1.0 percent, from 58,900 in December. Most of the losses came in retail trade (300) and federal government (100). There were 59,600 jobs in the area in January 2013. Although the metro area lost jobs in January, the loss was less than the average January loss of 800 jobs for the last five years.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.8 percent.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.8 percent.