Louisville Unemployment Rate Rises

The unemployment rate for the 13-county Louisville Metro area increased to 9.6 percent in January, according to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.The report issued Thursday compiles the figures for the region that includes southern Indiana and shows over 60,000 unemployed workers. In December, the Louisville jobless rate was 8.9 percent.But officials say the unemployment statistics are more volatile because they are not adjusted for seasonal fluctuations in the job market. And economists point out the rate in January 2012 rate is far below the previous year's number, which was 10.8 percent.Unemployment in the Kentucky rose from 8.6 percent in December to 9.5 percent in January.The U.S. jobless rate is 8.8 percent.