NSW bucking joblessness trend: govt

NSW is doing well compared to other states despite a rise in unemployment, the state government says.

Joblessness rose to 6.3 per cent in NSW in January, marginally below a national 12-year high of 6.4 per cent.

It's the 14th straight month NSW's figure has come in below the national average.

Treasurer Andrew Constance says it shows NSW is "bucking the trend nationally".

He used the rise as evidence of the worth of his government's plan to pour $20 billion into new infrastructure if re-elected on March 28.

But shadow treasurer Michael Daley blamed rising joblessness on government cuts to health and education, and a failure to attract new business.

"The Liberals have stood by and waved as businesses have closed and jobs have left our state," he said.