Covington County’s unemployment rate fell to slightly lower than the state rate in December.

The county’s jobless rate of 7.0 percent represents 1,158 people and was lower than its November rate (7.1 percent) and its December 2011 rate (7.9 percent).

Alabama’s preliminary December 2012 unemployment rate is 7.1 percent, down from November’s rate of 7.5 percent and below December 2011’s rate of 8.0 percent.

The counties with the lowest December 2012 unemployment rates were: Shelby County at 4.6 percent, Madison and Blount Counties at 5.5 percent, and Coffee, Cullman, Lee and St. Clair Counties at 5.7 percent. The counties with the highest unemployment rates were: Wilcox County at 15.1 percent, Bullock County at 13.1 percent and Perry, Greene and Dallas Counties at 12.0 percent.