AUGUSTA – Maine’s unemployment rate dropped by two-tenths of a percentage point in January to 4.4 percent, the state Labor Department said Thursday.

January’s rate was also two-tenths of a point lower than the comparable national figure for the month, 4.6 percent, Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman said. Maine’s rates are adjusted to account for seasonal fluctuations in the labor market.

As the new year started, the number of Maine residents employed continued to increase while unemployment declined, Fortman said. The number of nonfarm jobs increased by 1,900 between December 2006 and January 2007, and by 2,900 between January 2006 and January 2007.

Employment gains over the past year were recorded in health care and social assistance; trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality services; construction; and local government, Fortman said.