December unemployment rate in Delaware at 5 percent

Delaware’s unemployment rate dropped a tick in December to end the year at 5 percent. 

The unemployment rate for December was just a tenth of a percent lower than November’s 5.1 percent. The state’s December rate matches the national unemployment rate at 5.0 percent.

 

The number of unemployed Delawareans now stands at 23,300 as of December 2015. Twelve months ago that number was up to 23,600. While it might seem like a 300 person drop in the number of unemployed workers in the state might seem insignificant, the state Department of Labor points out that there are 15,600 more residents now working than there were in December 2014. Combined with the 14,500 workers who found employment in 2014, more than 30,000 Delawareans have found work in the past two years. That’s the largest two-year employment gain in state history.

More locally, New Castle County’s unemployment rate is 4.1 percent, down from 4.3 percent in November. Wilmingotn’s unemployment rate stands at 6 percent, about the same as this time last year.  Kent County’s rate is at 4.6 percent, while Sussex County’s rate is at 4.9 percent. Both southern county’s saw slight improvements from the previous month. It should be noted that the local unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.