Montgomery, AL – Alabama's unemployment rate jumped to 6.7 percent in December.
The November rate was 6.0 percent.
State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said Alabama's rate remains below the national rate of 7.2 percent.
Alabama's rate for December is the highest in more than 15 years.
Alabama lost 14,400 jobs during December. Surtees said that raised the total job less for 2008 to 41,900. Manufacturing industries suffered the biggest loss, with more than 17,000 jobs going away. The trade, transportation and utilities sector dropped by 8,600 jobs and hospitality industries lost 5,000 jobs.
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