State jobless rate up again

By Staff
Alabama’s unemployment rate for December 2008 was 6.7 percent, an increase from November’s rate of 6 percent. Alabama’s rate is below the December 2008 national rate of 7.2 percent.
In the past 12 months, employment declined by 41,900. The manufacturing industry recorded the greatest loss with more than 17,000 jobs. The trade, transportation, utilities and hospitality industries followed.