State, regional unemployment rises in December

Missouri's unemployment rate rose in December, mirroring the movement of 42 other states.

The Show-Me State posted an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent, up from 9.4 percent in November and up from 7.1 percent in December 2008, according to the latest information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A total of 43 states and the District of Columbia posted monthly jobless increases, and all 50 states saw an increase compared to a year ago.

The national unemployment rate remained unchanged in December at 10 percent, up from 7.4 percent in December 2008.

The largest monthly increases occurred in California, Texas, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, with the largest monthly decreases in Montana, Nevada, Iowa, South Dakota and Vermont.

For the year, the largest increases were in Wyoming, Nevada, Michigan and Arizona.

On a regional level, the Midwest posted unemployment of 9.8 percent in December, up from 9.5 percent in November and up from 7.3 percent in December 2008.