Missouri unemployment falls slightly to 9.5 percent in Jan.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri's unemployment fell slightly in January, but the state also shed 12,800 nonfarm jobs.

The state Department of Economic Development reports that the jobless rate dipped one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.5 percent last month. The agency says the nation's average unemployment rate for January was 9.7 percent.

In its report Tuesday, the agency pinned some job losses last month on cold weather. Missouri's construction sector shed 7,700 jobs, while roughly 3,400 were lost in administrative and support services. Leisure and hospitality lost 3,100 jobs.

The losses were offset by gains in manufacturing, retail trade, management and government.