Unemployment rates released by the state Department of Labor for January 2013 show the job outlook in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties hasn’t gained any ground compared to January 2012.

From 2012, Jefferson County’s figure slightly increased from 11.9 to 12.3 percent in January 2013, Lewis County increased from 12.3 to 12.7 percent and St. Lawrence County posted the same rate at 12.1 percent. Lewis County is now tied with Oswego County for having the second highest rate of unemployment statewide, behind Bronx County at 13.4 percent.

January 2013 jobless figures are up in the tri-county area compared with December 2012: Jefferson County increased from 10.8 to 12.3 percent, Lewis County from 11.1 to 12.7 percent and St. Lawrence County from 10.1 to 12.1 percent.

The average jobless rate for non-metro counties in upstate New York — which includes the north country — jumped from 10.4 to 10.9 percent from January 2012 to 2013. Unemployment statewide increased from 9.1 to 9.4 percent over that time frame, while the nationwide rate dipped from 8.8 to 8.5 percent.

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