OHIO VALLEY — Unemployment rates in both Gallia and Meigs counties saw a dramatic increase in January.

After a slight increase to end 2012, both counties had a more than two-point increase to start 2013.

Meigs County’s unemployment rate now sits at 14.4 percent after being at 10.9 in December and 10.4 in November.

Likewise, Gallia County jumped from 8.6 percent in December to 11 percent in January. Gallia County was at 7.6 percent in November.

While it is an increase from previous months, Meigs County’s rate is down from last January when the unemployment rate in the county was 14.6 percent.

Gallia County’s rate is also down from January 2012, when it was 10.7 percent.

Pike County currently holds the highest unemployment rate at 15.3 percent. Meigs County is tied with Adams and Morgan counties for the second highest rate at 14.4 percent.

Other counties with an unemployment rate over 12 percent are, Ottawa (13.9 percent), Huron (13.8 percent), Vinton (13.6 percent), Monroe (13.1 percent), Noble (12.9 percent), Scioto (12.8 percent), Muskingum (12.2 percent) and Clinton (12 percent).

Gallia County is ranked 19th out of Ohio’s 88 counties, down one spot from December.

When it comes to unemployment rates — in terms of rankings, it’s a good thing when a county’s number rises with the higher the ranking, the lower the unemployment.

Mercer County remains ranked 88th in the state with an unemployment rate of 5.3 percent, up from 3.9 percent in December.

Ohio had an unemployment rate of 8.4 percent in January, just under the national unemployment rate of 8.5 percent. Both rates are down slightly from last January. In January 2012, the state unemployment rate was 8.5 percent and the national rate was 8.8. percent.

A total of 33 Ohio counties had unemployment rates lower than the state rate.

In Southeast Ohio, other unemployment numbers include, Athens County, 8.8 percent; Jackson County, 11.1 percent; Washington County, 8.7 percent; Lawrence County, 8.7 percent; and Hocking County, 9.3 percent.

Information for this article provided by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.