January’s unemployment figures for Butler County jumped to 9.2 percent, according to figures released Monday by the Alabama Department of Labor.

Butler County’s unemployment rate for December was 7.9 percent.

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

“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.”

Butler County’s January rate represents 804 unemployed people compared to 680 in December.

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

Crenshaw’s rate increased from 5.6 percent to 6.8 percent, while Lowndes saw its unemployment rate jump to 11.8 percent from 9.6 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.