The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate for January was 7.6 percent, up six-tenths of a percentage point from 7.0 percent in December. The rate in January 2014 was 8.2 percent.

The rate increased as the metro area lost 1,500 mostly temporary and part-time jobs related to the holiday season. The number of jobs in Metro Columbus declined to 122,100, down from 123,600 in December. Most of the job loss came in retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and state government. However, there was an over-the-year gain of 1,500 jobs, up from 120,600 in January 2014. Most of the job gains came in education and health services, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and finance and insurance.  

Although there was a loss of mainly holiday-related jobs, the number of new claims for unemployment decreased to 1,566, a drop of 794, or 33.6 percent, from 2,360 in December. Most of the decrease in claims came in manufacturing and accommodations and food services. Over the year, claims were down by 175, or 10.1 percent, from 1,741 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.