The unemployment rate in Lancaster County rose to 6.9 percent in January, the state Department of Labor & Industry said Tuesday.

In climbing from December's 6.7 percent, the county's jobless rate hit a level not seen here since September 2011.

It was the second consecutive monthly increase, lifting the jobless rate well above the year-earlier mark of 6.6 percent.

Ironically, the county has 5,600 more people working now than in January 2012, lifting the county's total number of working adults to 253,900.

But at the same time, the county has 1,300 more people without work than a year earlier, swelling that category to 18,800.

So the local jobless rate is higher, even though the county has more people working.

A Department of Labor & Industry analyst believes that many people who had dropped out of the labor force have resumed searching for a job.

(To count as unemployed, a person has to be actively seeking a job.)

"There were a number of people who were out for a while, for whatever reason. Now they're back and looking," said analyst Bill Sholly.

They might have dropped out due to health or family issues, or because they got discouraged by an inability to find work, he noted.

Now, said Sholly, "a good number of them have found work but a good number are still looking.

"Depending on their skill set, it may take them a bit to find something," he said.

The Lancaster County jobless rate still fares favorably when compared to rates of other metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania.

The local rate tied with Lebanon for second-best among Pennsylvania's 14 metros.

No surprise there — the Lancaster County rate has been tied for second-best or third-best every month since February 2011.

State College had the lowest January rate at 5.9 percent while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had the highest at 9.8 percent.

Taking a closer look at the state report, the three largest municipalities here all posted higher jobless rates in January as well.

East Hempfield Township saw its jobless rate grow to 6.0 percent from December's 5.2 percent.

In Lancaster city, the unemployment rate jumped to 11.3 percent from 9.9 percent in December.

Manheim Township's rate was 7.1 percent, up from 6.4 percent the prior month.

The municipal rates are not adjusted for seasonal events, such as the expansion of the retail sector in December and its retreat in January.

The countywide rate is seasonally adjusted for such swings.
tmekeel@lnpnews.com