The December jobless rate in Covington County – and the state – is down, statistics from the state Department of Labor showed Friday.

The figures showed that the county’s unemployment rate for the month was 7.7 percent – down from November’s 8.1 percent – and representing 1,273 claims for benefits. That was a decrease of 72 from November.

The state’s December rate dropped from 8.7 percent in November to 8.1 percent in December.

The counties with the lowest unemployment rates in December were: Shelby at 5.2 percent, Coffee at 6 percent, Pike and Lee at 6.4 percent. The counties with the highest unemployment rates in December were: Wilcox at 16.3 percent, Bullock at 13.7 percent and Perry and Lowndes at 13.5 percent.