OHIO VALLEY — Unemployment in Mason, Meigs and Gallia counties is on the rise, according to the latest statistics released for December 2012.

Mason County’s unemployment rate has been steadily rising since September and went from 9.7 percent in November to 10.1 percent in December. This means Mason County was ranked 13th out of 55 counties in terms of its unemployment rate. Mason County was preceded by Lincoln County at 10.2 percent, Braxton and Nicholas counties both at 10.3 percent, Pocahontas County at 10.5 percent, Boone County at 10.6 percent, Mingo County at 10.8 percent, Grant County at 11.1 percent, Wyoming County at 11.3 percent, Wetzel County at 11.5 percent, Roane County at 11.7 percent, Calhoun County at 12.3 percent, Webster County at 13.7 percent and Clay County at 14.9 percent.

Mason County was not alone when it comes to increasing unemployment rates across the state with 53 out of 55 counties reporting higher rates. Two counties, Brooke and Pocahontas, reported declining unemployment rates in December. Monongalia and Jefferson counties had the lowest unemployment rates, both at 4.8 percent.

The unemployment rate in Meigs County has been on the rise since October, going from 10.4 percent in November to 10.9 percent in December. However, for the first time in months, Meigs County has finally fallen from the number two spot in terms of the highest unemployment in the state. This month, Meigs was ranked at number five out of 88 counties, preceded by Ottawa County, also at 10.9 percent, Adams and Morgan counties, both at 11.1 percent and Pike County at 12.3 percent unemployment.

After unemployment rates in Gallia County were on the decline since September 2012, unemployment went from 7.6 percent in November to 8.6 percent in December. Gallia County went from being ranked at number 21 to 18 out of Ohio’s 88 counties 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.

For example, once again, Mercer County was ranked at number 88, having 3.9 percent unemployment - the lowest in the state. Other unemployment numbers from across the state include Hamilton County, 6.2 percent, Cuyahoga County, 6.6 percent, Franklin County, 5.4 percent, Athens County, 6.6 percent, Vinton County, 10.1 percent, Lawrence County, 7.2 percent, Jackson County, 8.3 percent.

Gallia and Meigs counties were also not alone when it came to rising unemployment rates across Ohio - rates increased in 67 out of 88 counties.

Ohio’s unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in December, down slightly from 6.8 percent in November. While in West Virginia, the unemployment rate climbed two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.5 percent in December. The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 7.8 percent, unchanged from November, and down from 8.5 percent in December 2011.

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