Flathead County’s unemployment rate posted at 7.3 percent in January, up more than a full percentage point from 6.2 percent in December 2015.

The county’s jobless rate is slightly improved from a year ago when the rate was 7.8 percent, according to state Department of Labor statistics.

Flathead County has a work force of 41,006 people, an increase from 40,198 people employed in January 2015.

Lincoln County had the highest unemployment rate of any Montana county in January at 12.6 percent. That’s up 2.2 percent from December’s 10.4 percent rate for Lincoln County.

Sanders County reported 10.9 percent unemployment in January, up from 9.6 percent in January.

Lake County’s jobless rate also inched higher, at 5.9 percent compared to 5.2 percent in December.

Montana’s statewide unemployment rate was unchanged in January, remaining at 4.1 percent. The state’s unemployment rate continues to hover around 4.0 percent as it did for most of 2015.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell 0.1 percent over the month to 4.9 percent.

“Today’s economic news is another sign that Montana’s economy is among the strongest in the nation,” Gov. Steve Bullock said in a prepared statement.

“As our economy grows at a fast rate, we continue to work to ensure Montana’s wage growth remains high and that we are finding new ways to prepare our workforce for our state’s growing industries.”

Payroll employment showed positive gains in January, adding around 1,300 jobs. Payroll job gains were most notable in retail trade, construction and manufacturing.

Total employment estimates, which include agricultural and self-employed workers along with payroll workers, indicated a statistically insignificant gain of 68 jobs.

Employment growth over the past year remains near the long-term average of about 1 percent, with 5,166 jobs added for a growth rate of 1.1 percent.