Excerpt: “Unemployment rates were higher in December in 6 states, lower in 2 states, and stable in 42 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty seven states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier, 6 states had decreases, and 17 states had little change. The national unemployment rate changed little over the month at 4.1 percent but was 0.3 percentage point higher than in December 2023. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 2 states and was essentially unchanged in 48 states and the District of Columbia in December 2024. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased in 33 states and was essentially unchanged in 17 states and the District.”