Area unemployment rates climbed deeper into double digits in January as Mississippi’s unadjusted unemployment rate registered at 12 percent.

Although an uptick in January is not unusual, only eight of the 82 counties recorded jobless rates of less than 10 percent in January, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. Four counties have rates greater than 20 percent.

MDES is currently revising 2009 data and notes that the January numbers are not strictly comparable with the unrevised 2009 numbers.

After closing 2009 with a rate of 12 percent, Alcorn County posted a jobless rate of 14 percent in January. The number unemployed was 2,100, compared to 1,760 a year earlier, with 12,930 employed.

Among neighboring counties, Prentiss County fared best at 15.1 percent, up from 12.5 percent a year earlier. Tishomingo County registered at 15.4 percent, up from 14.5 percent a year earlier.

Tippah County fared worst with a rate of 17.5 percent, up from 15 percent a year earlier.

Industry sectors seeing the largest employment losses for the month were trade, transportation and utilities; government; leisure and hospitality; educational and health services; and construction.

Rankin County led the state at 8 percent, followed by DeSoto at 8.3 percent and Lamar at 8.7 percent. Holmes and Noxubee counties tied for the highest rate at 23.1 percent.

The revised 2009 numbers are expected to be available for release with the February 2010 data.