Unemployment statewide grew to 5.3 percent last month, its highest rate in 12 years and up from 4.9 percent in October and 3.6 percent a year ago, according to federal data released Friday.
The number of unemployed persons grew to 157,800, up from 148,400 the previous month and 107,400 in 2007. The national unemployment rate jumped to 6.7 percent last month from 6.5 percent in October and 2 percent a year earlier, according to the data.
Michigan and Rhode Island maintained the highest unemployment rates at 9.6 and 9.3 percent respectively.
– Aaron Cahall
