The December unemployment rate in Ellis County remained flat compared to November at 2.1 percent, according to statistics released last week by the Kansas Department of Labor.

Sheridan and Gove counties posted the state’s lowest jobless rate at 2.0 percent. Osborne County posted the highest unemployment rate in northwest Kansas at 4.3 percent.

Statewide, December’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, down from 4.3 percent in November and down from 4.9 percent in December 2013.

“2014 marked a strong year of low unemployment rates of under 5 percent, with December representing the lowest rate of the year at 4.2 percent,” said Lana Gordon, Secretary of Labor.

There were 18,577 initial claims for unemployment benefits in December 2014, up from 12,003 in November and down from 19,749 in December 2013. There were 97,398 continued claims in December, up from 68,018 the previous month and down from 124,370 in December 2013. These numbers include all available programs.

The January Labor Report is scheduled to be released March 6.