"Unemployment climbs in January: Biggest monthly jobless jump in years for N.H."

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070318/FOSTERS01/103180171

According to this article, the unemployment rate for N.H. for January was 4.2 percent; much higher than the 3.3 percent in December 2006 and 3.8 percent in January 2006. However, NHES Labor Market Analyst Dana Cudworth "sees nothing alarming in the January jobless statistics", as she claims that there is always an increase in unemployment between the months of December and January (seasonal unemployment?).

One reason which accounts for the recently high unemployment rate in N.H is the decline in the construction sector due to a slump in the housing market. Furthermore, "manufacturing jobs continue to hemorrhage and a shortage of snow gave the tourist season a slow start."