After months of economic recovery, January's local unemployment rates were released Tuesday and Marion County saw its biggest increase in over four years.

The delayed figures from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services showed Marion County's unemployment spike from 7.2% in December 2012 to 9% in January 2013. That's the highest its been since Feburary of 2012's 9.3%.

Perhaps the most stunning number though is the overall increase of 500 unemployed individuals in one month's time. That number marks the biggest month-to-month jump since November-December 2008, when the economic recession was first felt locally.

Some officials are blaming post-Christmas seasonal job layoffs as a possible reason for the dramatic increase, and are quick to point out that Marion County's unemployment rate is still lower than a year ago, when it was at 9.5%.

February's local unemployment numbers are expected later this month.

Here's a look at how all area counties' unemployment numbers looked in the latest report.

County – Jan-13 – Dec-12
Crawford – 10.0 – 7.8
Delaware – 5.8 – 4.3
Hardin – 8.5 – 6.3
Marion – 9.0 – 7.2
Morrow – 8.7 – 6.7
Union – 6.6 – 5.1
Wyandot – 8.8 – 6.4