Rochester, MN, (KROC-AM News) - Unemployment rates were higher across southeastern Minnesota during the first month of the new year, and while seasonal factors were partially to blame, the jobless rates for January were higher than those reported a year throughout the region.

The latest jobs data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show the jobless rate in Olmsted County climbed seven-tenths of a point from December to 3.7-percent. It remained the lowest unemployment rate in the region, but it was up three-tenths of a point from last January and was the highest the rate has been in the Rochester area since March 2015.

Throughout southeastern Minnesota, the largest year-over-year increase was seven-tenths of point in Dodge County, which also had the highest unemployment rate in the region at 6.5-percent.

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