The unemployment rate in Freestone county dropped in December after rising for eight consecutive months.

Unemployment rate for the county in December, the most recent data from Texas Workforce Commission shows, was 4.5 percent. A month earlier the rate was 4.8 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate rose to 5.7 percent in December from 5.6 percent a month earlier.

Freestone county figures show that out of a total available labor force of 10,086 workers, there were 453 without jobs in December.

In November, the labor force was slightly higher at 10,178, of which 486 workers were unemployed.

The last time the Freestone county rate was as low as 4.5 percent was August 2008.

Starting in May, when unemployment rose to 3.7 percent from 3.2 percent, the rate increased for eight consecutive months to the November high of 4.8 percent.

Freestone county posts the lowest unemployment rate in the immediate area.

Highest rate for the area is 6.2 percent in Anderson where 1,282 workers are unemployed out of a total labor force of 20,693.

November rate in Anderson county was 6.4 percent, with 1,332 persons without jobs.

There was no change in the Navarro county rate, which stayed at 6.1 percent with 1,296 persons out of job from a total workforce of 21,227.

Rate in Limestone county dropped from 5.3 percent to 5.2 percent in December. The calculation is figured from a workforce of 10,481 persons, of which 557 are unemployed.

Leon county posts an unemployment rate of 4.9 percent, down from 5.9 percent in November. Out of a labor force of 7,732, there are 377 persons without jobs.