Area unemployment up from December

Unemployment in the Philadelphia metropolitan area rose in January to 7.1 percent, up from 6.4 percent in December, but down from 9 percent in January 2013, the U.S. Labor Department reported Friday.

The figures are not adjusted for normal seasonal variations.

Breaking it down, the unemployment rate in the Camden area, which consists of Camden, Gloucester, and Burlington Counties, was 7.9 percent, up from 7.0 percent in December, but down from 10 percent a year ago.

Philadelphia and its four surrounding suburban counties also saw an increase, to 6.9 percent in January from 6.3 percent in December, but down from 8.9 percent in January 2013.

In related news, Pennsylvania released its jobs report for February on Friday. The report showed an increase in the number of jobs, up 8,700 to 5,766,000.

There were gains in trade, transportation, utilities, leisure, hospitality, and professional and business services.

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate declined to 6.2 percent in February, adjusted for seasonal variations - the lowest since November 2008. In February 2013, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was 7.7 percent.

New Jersey's February report is due Thursday.