(KLZA)-- Unemployment figures in Southeast Nebraska counties were all lower in December, 2024 than the previous month.

Pawnee County has the best unemployment rate in the area at 2.3% which dipped 4-tenths of a point from November.

In Richardson County unemployment declined one half of a percent in December to 2.5%.

Johnson County had a jobless rate of 3.3%; Nemaha County Nebraska's unemployment figure in December was 2.9% and in Gage County the unemployment rate was 2.7%. Otoe County's unemployment rate for the month was 2.4%.

Statewide in December the unemployment rate was 2.8% which ranks 5th in the nation. South Dakota has the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 1.9%.

Iowa ranked 12th at 3.2%; Kansas was 22nd at 3.6% and Missouri was tied for 25th with a jobless rate in December of 3.7%.

Nationally in December the unemployment rate was 4.1%.