Employment at the nation's hospitals rose 0.17% in January to a seasonally adjusted 4,711,000 people, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. That's 8,200 more than in December and 137,000 more than a year ago. Without the seasonal adjustment, which removes the effect of fluctuations due to seasonal events, hospitals employed 4,695,900 people in January, 10,900 fewer than in December and 131,100 more than a year ago. The nation's overall unemployment rate rose four-tenths of a percentage point in January to 7.6%.