Lawrence County's unemployment rate decreased slightly in December. The December rate was 5.5 percent, down from 5.8 percent in November.

According to statistics released late last week from the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, 1,500 Lawrence Countians were looking for work last month.

Statewide, Ohio's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in December, down from the revised rate of 5.5 percent in November.

The November rate was initially announced at 5.4 percent, but was later revised upward based on more current data. The U.S. unemployment rate for December was 6.0 percent, unchanged from November.

Among the state's 88 counties, the December 2002 unemployment rates ranged from a low of 2.9 percent in Holmes County to a high of 14.0 percent in Morgan County. Rates decreased in about one-half of the counties. The comparable rate for Ohio for December was 5.0 percent.

Twelve counties had unemployment rates below 4.0 percent in December. The counties with the lowest rates, other than Holmes, were: Hancock, 3.0; Clinton, 3.2; Delaware, 3.3; Madison and Union, 3.5; Butler, Logan, Putnam and Warren, 3.7; and Franklin and Greene, 3.9 percent.

Eight counties had unemployment rates above 8.0 percent during December. The counties with the highest rates, other than Morgan, were: Vinton, 12.5; Meigs, 10.2; Adams, 9.9; Pike, 8.9; Ottawa, 8.5; Huron, 8.4; and Monroe, 8.3 percent.