The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate increased to 7.4 percent in January, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 7.1 percent in December. The rate was 8.9 percent in January a year ago.

The rate rose primarily because the number of jobs in Metro Augusta decreased to 215,800, down by 3,300, or 1.5 percent, from 219,100 in December. Most of the losses came in trade, transportation, and warehousing (1,100), education and health care (900), state government (500), and professional and business services (300). There were 216,000 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 4,000 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 2,013, down by 739, or 26.9 percent, from 2,752 in December. Most of the decline in claims came in accommodations and food services, administrative and support services, professional and technical services, and manufacturing and construction. There were 2,304 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.