The unemployment rate in the metro Macon area rose to 9.4 percent in January, up slightly from 9.1 percent in December, the state Labor Department reported Thursday.

The unemployment rate was 10 percent in January 2012.

The rate was 7.7 percent in metro Warner Robins for January, up from 7.5 percent in December, the release stated. The rate was 7.8 percent in January 2012.

The rates rose in both areas because of two primary factors: a loss of seasonal jobs and an increase in new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, according to a news release.

The number of jobs in the Macon area declined by 2,100, or 2.1 percent, from 99,600 in December to 97,500 in January. However, metro Macon started the year with 1,300 more jobs in January than a year ago.

The job increases came mostly in trade, transportation, warehousing, professional and business services, education and health care, and leisure and hospitality.

The number of jobs in Warner Robins declined by 500, from 59,500 in December to 59,000 in January. Most of the job losses came in retail trade and local government.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.6 percent, while metro Dalton and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 11.9 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 8.7 percent, unchanged from December. The rate was 9.3 percent in January a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted.

Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.