The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Macon’s unemployment rate increased to 7.7 percent in January, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 7.6 percent in December. The rate was 9.4 percent in January a year ago.

The rate rose primarily because the number of jobs in Metro Macon decreased to 97,800, down by 1,900, or 1.9 percent, from 99,700 in December. Most of the losses came in trade, transportation, and warehousing (900), professional and business services (200), leisure and hospitality (100), education and health care (100), financial services (100), and state government (100). There were 97,600 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 2,500 jobs for the last five years.

At the same time, the number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, decreased in January to 1,282, down by 642, or 33.4 percent, from 1,924 in December. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing, accommodations and food services, and administrative and support services. There were 1,479 claims in January 2013.

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.