Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Southern Georgia region added to its number of employed residents in January.

For the 18-county region, Southern Georgia saw its monthly and annual numbers for labor force increase in January, preliminary numbers show.

In the region, the unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points in January, settling at 3.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.5 percent.

The labor force in Southern Georgia increased by 3,660 in January, bringing the total to 181,684. The number has increased by 1,937 when compared to the same month a year ago.

Southern Georgia gained 2,745 employed residents in January, bringing the total to 174,765. The number is up 3,040 for the year.

Claims for unemployment insurance remained unchanged in January. They were up by about 9 percent when compared to the same month a year ago.