ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota's unemployment rate has stayed on its downward trend, falling to 5.5% in December.
The Department of Employment and Economic Development officials released statistics Thursday while describing job gains and losses in various sectors. The state made a net gain of 9,100 jobs that month. Job gains for November were also revised upward to reflect a net addition of 12,300 jobs.
Over the last 12 months, Minnesota has gained 50,700 jobs.
Minnesota's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has remained well below the national average. Federal statistics released a couple of weeks ago showed the national jobless rate for December was 7.8%.
For November, the state revised its seasonally adjusted jobless rate to 5.6%.