The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Warner Robins’ unemployment rate increased to 6.7 percent in December, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 6.4 percent in November. The rate was 7.5 percent in December a year ago.

The rate rose because the number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, increased to 869, up by 514, or 144.8 percent, from 355 in November. Claims increased mostly in manufacturing. There were 418 claims in December 2012.

The number of jobs in Metro Warner Robins rose in December to 59,100, an increase of 100 jobs, or 0.2 percent, since November, when there were 59,000 jobs. Most of the gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with local government.

However, while there was an over-the-month job gain, Metro Warner Robins lost 400 jobs between December 2012 and December 2013, mostly with the federal government.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 7.4 percent, down from 7.6 percent in November. The rate was 8.7 percent in December a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.