FRANKFURT (AP) -- The number of people employed in the German manufacturing sector declined 4.9 percent in January compared with the same month in 2009.

The Federal Statistical Office said Monday the number of Germans employed in manufacturing fell to 4.9 million workers from about 5.15 million in January 2009.

The Wiesbaden-based Statistical Office says only the food manufacturing sector reported a 1.7 percent increase in workers.

The metals sector saw a near 9 percent decline in manufacturing workers, while the electrical equipment sector reported a near 7 percent decline. The overall machinery sector reported a near 6 percent decline in manufacturing workers.