ATLANTA (AP) — State labor officials say Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.7 percent held steady in January, unchanged from the December rate.

The jobless rate was down from 9.3 percent a year ago.

Georgia labor officials say there was a loss of 47,700 mostly seasonal jobs and an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits over the month. However, the increases were not enough to impact the unemployment rate.

The numbers were announced early Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the good news in the report is that Georgia lost the fewest jobs for January since 1987.