WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates fell in 25 states in December, including Maryland, though Virginia’s jobless rate rose slightly.
Both states also saw healthy job growth last month.
The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics says the unemployment rate in Maryland last month was 5.1 percent, down from 5.2 percent in November, and down from 5.5 percent in December 2014.
Virginia’s unemployment rate last month was 4.2 percent, up from 4.1 percent in November, but down from 4.8 percent a year earlier.
Virginia employers added 6,800 jobs in December, while Maryland saw job growth of 10,500. Maryland’s nonfarm payrolls now total 2.64 million. In Virginia, it is nearly 3.8 million.
North Dakota had the nation’s lowest state unemployment in December, at 2.7 percent. New Mexico had the highest state unemployment rate last month, at 6.7 percent.
