The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate for January was 6.8 percent, up five-tenths of a percentage point from 6.3 percent in December. The rate in January 2015 was 7.5 percent.

The rate rose as the number of jobs in Columbus decreased to 121,100, down by 1,800, or 1.5 percent, from 122,900 in December. Most of the decrease came in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and retail trade.  

However, over the year, Columbus gained 600 jobs, a 0.5 percent growth rate, up from 120,500 in January 2015 Most of the job gains came in finance and insurance, leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and warehousing, along with state and local government.  

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 481, or 23.9 percent, to 1,533 in January. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and accommodations and food services. Also, over the year, claims were down by 33, or 2.1 percent, from 1,566 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.