The state unemployment rate remained troubling.

The January rate was 7.4 percent, up from 6.4 percent in December, but down from 7.9 percent in January 2010, according to figures from the Kansas Department of Labor.

The January seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 6.8 percent, unchanged from December and down from 7.2 percent in January 2010.

“The Great Recession continues to take a tremendous toll on the Kansas economy,” said Kansas Department of Labor Secretary Karin Brownlee.

She said Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration was working to improve the economy.

“Improving the tax and regulatory climate will help take some of the sting out of this recession and get Kansans back to work,” she said.

There were 32,089 initial claims for unemployment benefits in January, up from 27,889 initial claims in December 2010 and down from 33,075 in January 2010. There were 297,180 continued claims in January, up from 229,788 in December 2010 and down from 313,032 in January 2010.

The Douglas County jobless rate was 6.7 percent, up from 5.6 percent in December, and up from January 2010 when it was 6.5 percent.