The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Middle Georgia region in January was 7.1 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 6.8 percent in December. The rate in January 2014 was 8.0 percent.

The rate rose as the number of unemployed residents increased by 618 to 15,117. Each year in January, some people lose temporary or part-time jobs related to the holidays. 

Although the number of unemployed residents increased, the number of new claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 179, or 7.5 percent, to 2,207. Most of the decrease in claims came in manufacturing and accommodations and food services. Over the year, claims were up by 56, or 2.6 percent, from 2,151 filed in January 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 8.3 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 6.4 percent, down from 6.6 percent in December. It was 7.3 percent in January 2014. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.gdol.ga.gov Connect with us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter @GeorgiaDOL, which can be easily accessed via our website at www.gdol.ga.gov.