The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for January was 6.1 percent, up four-tenths of a percentage from 5.7 percent in December. The rate in January 2015 was 6.9 percent.

The rate rose as the number of jobs decreased to 227,200, down by 2,300, or 1 percent, from 229,500 in December. Most of the decrease came in trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, and mining, logging and construction. 

However, over the year, Augusta gained 1,900 jobs, a 0.8 percent growth rate, up from 225,300 in January 2015. Most of the job gains came in education and health services, federal and state government, retail trade, and mining, logging and construction. 

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 335, or 13.1 percent, to 2,216 in January. Most of the decrease came in accommodations and food services, administrative and support services, and manufacturing and construction. However, over the year, claims were up by 186, or 9.2 percent, from 2,030 in January 2015.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.5 percent, while Metro Dalton had the highest at 7.2 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 5.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent in December. It was 6.3 percent in January 2015.