St. Lawrence County’s unemployment rate and number of people working both fell in January compared to the same month a year ago, according to figures from the state Department of Labor.

According to DOL statistics, the unemployment rate in January was 8.7 percent, compared to 9.3 percent a year ago, a .6 percent drop. However, January's rate was an increase from the Dec. 2014 rate was 7.2 percent.

About 4,000 people received unemployment benefits in January,  a .4 percent decrease from one year ago when 4,400 were on the dole and roughly 3,300 people in December 2014.

The DOL says 41,800 people were employed in St. Lawrence County in January compared to 42,500 a year ago, or a .7 percent drop.

To the east in Franklin County, the unemployment rate dropped in January from 9.1 percent last year to 8.2 percent, a .9 percent change. The number of people working there also fell, from 18,800 to 18,300, a .5 percent shift. People receiving unemployment benefits went from 1,900 in January 2014 to 1,600 in January 2015. That’s a .2 percent change.

To the west in Jefferson County, the percentage of people on unemployment fell from 9,600 a year ago to 8,800 in January, a .8 percent drop.

In January 2014, there were 42,400 people working compared to 41,600 in January this year. That’s a .8 percent decrease.

About 4,000 people received unemployment benefits, down from 4,500 in January 2014. That represents a .5 percent shift.