While Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate for January 2013 is down, Pike County’s is up from both December and January 2012, according to numbers released by the Alabama Department of Labor.

January numbers show 7.6 percent unemployment in Pike County. Last month the county was at 6.5 percent and last January at 7.2 percent.

That means 1,167 people in Pike County that are part of the civilian labor force were unemployed last month. In December 2012, that number was 1,004 and in January 2012 the number was 1,078.

The only county surrounding Pike County with a lower unemployment rate is Coffee County, coming in at 6.9 percent.

Statewide, January’s rate represents 148,724 unemployed persons, compared to 145,613 in December and 158,040 in January 2012.

Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate for January is 6.9 percent, making this the second month the state’s unemployment rate is below 7 percent.

The rate is up slightly from December 2012’s revised rate of 6.8 percent. December 2012’s preliminary rate was originally announced as 7.1 percent. January 2012’s revised rate was 7.3 percent.

Active job orders placed by employers on the state’s online jobs database www.joblink.alabama.gov numbered 15,253, which remain at an all-time high.

“The long-term trend in Alabama’s unemployment rate is encouraging news,” Governor Robert Bentley said.

“We have seen a steady decline in unemployment over time. Dozens of industries are choosing to build and expand in Alabama, and the result is more people are going back to work. There is still much work left to be done, however, until Alabama reaches full employment, and our efforts to recruit more jobs will continue.”

Initial unemployment compensation claims remain below 2009 levels. In January, initial claims numbered 34,560, compared to 61,033 in 2009. In 2008, the figure was 35,766.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 5.4 percent, Blount County at 6.4 percent and Madison County at 6.6 percent. Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 17.4 percent, Lowndes County at 14.5 percent and Bullock, Perry, and Dallas Counties at 13.9 percent.

February’s unemployment rate will be released on Friday, March 29.