The jobless rate for Houston County in December 2012 was 7.4 percent.
That's 1.4 percent lower than the state's unemployment rate of 8.8 percent
According to a state news release, unemployment rose to 9.2 percent from November's 8.7 percent rate, but it was down from December 2011 when the rate was 9.5 percent.
Officials claim the rise comes from a combination of factors, including a "slight increase" in new layoffs and a reduction in the area work force.
The uptick reflects a similar statewide trend. However, the jobless rate across Georgia only rose one-tenth of percentage point while metro Macon's rate jumped five-tenths of a percentage point.
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