Westport’s unemployment rate in January was 5.7 percent, up from 5.1 percent in December, according to the Connecticut Department of Labor.
The December rate was the lowest since the 4.5 percent rate recorded in August 2008. A year ago in January, Westport had a 6.3 percent unemployment rate.
The lowest Westport unemployment rate in recent years was 2.2 percent in December 2006, according to state records.
The department said the number of Westport unemployed in January was 713, up from 651 in December.
The January labor force in Westport numbered 12,414, down from 12,733 in December, and there were 11,701 employed, down from 12,122 employed in December, it said.
Economists said December employment statistics are usually bolstered by temporary hiring during the holiday season and a fall off in January has been the pattern.
