January’s unemployment figures for Crenshaw County jumped to 6.8 percent, according to figures released by the Alabama Department of Labor.

Crenshaw County’s unemployment rate for December was 5.6 percent.

Alabama’s unemployment rate held steady in January at 6.1 percent.

January’s figures are the latest figures released by the Alabama Department of Labor.

“Looking at the seasonally adjusted numbers, we saw growth in both the labor force and the number of people working in Alabama in January, and those are positive signs,” said Tom Surtees, Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner. “Additionally, the number of job orders we received on JobLink have, once again, set a record for the highest number of job orders in the history of the site. Although the number of jobs reported decreased, this is a common occurrence in January, and is due, in large part, to retailers laying off seasonal help.”

Crenshaw County’s January rate represents 434 unemployed people compared to 355 in December.

Butler County and Lowndes County, which neighbor Crenshaw, both saw an increase in their unemployment rate.

Butler’s rate increased from 7.9 percent to 9.2 percent, while Lowndes saw its unemployment rate jump to 11.8 percent from 9.6 percent. Pike County also saw a spike in unemployment from 6 percent to 7 percent.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates in the state are Shelby County at 4.6 percent, Lee County at 5.5 percent and Limestone and Cullman Counties at 5.8 percent.

The counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 16.4 percent, Perry County at 13.2 percent and Bullock County as 12.7 percent.