The unemployment rate for the city of Mentor increased 1.5 percent in January — up to 6.9 percent from 5.4 — after having been stable for November and December, according to information released by the city Thursday.

Historically, unemployment peaks in the city in January or February, a city official noted. In January 2012, the unemployment rate was similar, at 6.8 percent.

In Lake County, the January 2013 unemployment rate was at 7.9 percent — an increase of 1.6 percent. Ohio’s unemployment rate increased 1.8 percent to 8.4 percent.

Mentor’s January rate ranked fourth-lowest among communities with a population over 50,000, behind Cleveland Heights, Lakewood and Columbus.

In October, the city’s rate hit a five-year low, decreasing for the fifth straight month to 4.5 percent. That was down from 5.1 percent in September and 5.4 percent the prior October.

Source: January 2013 Civilian Labor Force Estimates — Ohio Department of Job & Family Service, Office of Workforce Development and Bureau of Labor Market Information.

-- Betsy Scott, BScott@News-Herald.com, @ReporterBetsy