New Hampshire’s preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2019 was 2.6 percent, unchanged from the November rate, which remained at 2.6 percent after revision. The December 2018 seasonally adjusted rate was 2.4 percent.

Seasonally adjusted estimates for December 2019 placed the number of employed residents at 757,710, an increase of 1,680 from the previous month and an increase of 12,480 from December 2018. The number of unemployed residents increased by 90 over-the-month to 20,090. This was 1,710 more unemployed than in December 2018. From November to December 2019, the total labor force increased by 1,770 to 777,800. This was an increase of 14,190 from December 2018. The unadjusted December 2019 unemployment rate for New Hampshire was 2.3 percent, unchanged from the November rate, which remained at 2.3 percent after revision. The December 2018 unadjusted rate was 2.1 percent.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December 2019 was 3.5 percent, unchanged from the November rate, and a decrease of 0.4 percentage points from the December 2018 rate. The national unadjusted rate for December 2019 was 3.4 percent, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the November rate, and a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the December 2018 rate.

NOTE: State nonfarm employment estimates are available on our Internet Web site: www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi concurrent with this release. Local area unemployment rates are expected to be available on Thursday, January 30. All monthly data will continue to be published in the monthly newsletter New Hampshire Economic Conditions.