Mississippi’s unemployment rate rose to 10.3 percent in December, up from 9.1 percent in November.

The jobless rate was 7.7 percent in December 2008.

The state Department of Employment Security released figures Wednesday.

Unemployment rates ranged from a high of 19 percent in Clay and Holmes counties to 6.8 percent in Rankin County.

MDES says unemployment rates increased in all 82 counties, with 23 Mississippi counties posting rates less than the state’s rate.

On the Net:

Department of Employment Security, http://www.mdes.ms.gov