Unemployment rates continued to fall further in 19 states in December, including Maryland, although Virginia’s statewide unemployment rate was higher.
The unemployment rate in Maryland last month was 6.3% down from 6.8% in November, according to the department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Virginia’s unemployment rate was 4.9%, up from 4.7%.
As of the end of December, total nonfarm payroll jobs in Virginia were still down by 179,900 a year earlier, or a 4.4% decline.
Maryland ended the year with 124,700 fewer jobs than a year earlier, a 4.5% decline.
Hawaii and Nevada had the highest state unemployment rates in December, at 9.3% and 9.2% respectively.
Nebraska and South Dakota tied for the lowest state unemployment rate in December, at 3.0%.
All totaled, 25 states had lower unemployment rates in December then the national average of 6.7%.
