Jobless rate dips slightly in North Carolina to 5.6 percent

In December, four states had statistically significant over-the-month unemployment rate declines, the largest of which occurred in Missouri and OR (-0.3 percentage point each).

The number of employed in Arkansas during December was 1.273 million, better than the 1.269 million in November and 2.7% better than the 1.238 million in December 2014. Chester’s rate in December was 7.2 percent, up from 7.1 percent in November, while Lancaster came in at 5.6 percent, up from 5.5 percent a month earlier.

The Labor Department says based on preliminary data, the seasonal-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for 2015 is 3.7 percent. That was down from 6 percent in December 2014.

The number of nonfarm jobs in Louisiana fell by 17,900, or 0.9 percent, to 1,992,300 during 2015 – hit hardest by the struggling oil and gas industry.

The year-end figures show Maine’s decreasing unemployment rate continues to depend on people exiting the labor force, not overall job gains.

Based on recent trends, he foresees more job growth across the state, but not at the same pace as a year ago. Mining employment has fallen by 10,000 over the year. The monthly numbers are seasonally adjusted.

Both states also saw healthy job growth last month.

The Hoosier State grew 5,200 Trade, Transportation and Utilities jobs in December, which ranked 4 in the U.S. Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims jumped 33.9 percent in December over the same month a year prior.

The state’s fast-growing Education and Health Services sector during December grew by 300 to 181,400.