California’s jobless rate falls, but still nation’s 2nd highest

Although California’s unemployment dropped fractionally to 7 percent in December, the state stands alone with the nation’s second-highest rate, exceeded only by Mississippi’s 7.2 percent.

California, which has had one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates for years, found itself alone with the second-highest rate because Georgia, with whom California had been tied, improved to 6.9 percent, according to a compilation that was released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Oil-rich North Dakota had the nation’s lowest unemployment rate in December, 2.8 percent, followed by Nebraska, South Dakota and Utah. Texas, with whom California is often compared, was 16th hghest at 4.6 percent.

California’s rate had been 7.2 percent in November, and was 8.3 percent in December 2013.