(KLZA)-- Unemployment rates were higher in extreme southeast Nebraska for the month of  December.

The highest unemployment rate in the area was 3.5 percent in Nemaha County, up 3-tenths. 

The lowest unemployment rate was  in Otoe County at 2.4 percent, up 2-tenths. 

The Pawnee County unemployment rate spiked up  nearly one full percent to 2.7 percent. In Richardson County the jobless rate was 3.1 percent, up half a percentage point.  

Johnson and Gage counties also had unemployment increases of  half-a-percent.  Johnson County was up to 3.3 percent and  in Gage County the rate  was 2.9 percent.