The Georgia Department of Labor has reported that the unemployment rate in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) rose to a preliminary 5.8 percent in January, up one-tenth of one percent from a revised 4.7 percent in December. The area's jobless rate stood at 6.5 percent in January 2005.

Meanwhile, Georgia's unemployment rate rose to a newly-revised 5.0 percent in January, up one-tenth of one percent from a revised 4.9 percent in December. The state's jobless rate stood at 5.3 percent in January 2005.

While Georgia lost 71,500 jobs from December to January, it has gained 81,600 over the past 12month period. Most of the jobs lost from December to January were seasonal jobs in trade services, and construction. During the same onmonth period last year, Georgia lost 58,500 jobs, with many of those in trade, services, and construction, too.

Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www.dol.state.ga.us