BUSINESS BRIEF

Monroe jobless rate goes up a point in Jan.

3/21/2014

LANSING — The Monroe area’s seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate rose from 6.9 percent in December to 7.9 percent in January, the state announced Thursday.

Statewide, the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate rose 0.4 percentage points to 8.1 percent. That’s down from 9.9 percent a year earlier.

The state says weather typically drives up unemployment in winter months.