Okmulgee County’s unemployment rate increased in January according to the latest figures from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. The jobless rate rose to 5.5 percent, up from 4.3 percent the previous month. There are currently 15,720 in the labor force, with 14,859 working and 861 looking for employment. Okmulgee County is ranked in 71st place. The jobless rates for more counties in the state were down, according to the OESC. McIntosh County held Oklahoma’s highest county unemployment rate of 6.9 percent. McCurtain County and Latimer County were tied for second during January. On the other end, Cimarron County had the lowest county unemployment rate at1.9 percent. Unemployment rates in January were lower than a year earlier in 64 counties, higher in six counties and unchanged in seven counties. Here are the rates for Okmulgee and surrounding counties: Okmulgee County 5.5% Creek County 4.2% McIntosh County 6.9% Muskogee County 4.4% Okfuskee County 5.2% Tulsa County 3.6%