Texas County ended the year with a 5.6 percent unemployment rate in December, down slightly from the previous month, the Missouri Department of Economic Development said.
The rate in November was 5.7 percent.
The agency said the civilian work force in the county stood at 9,733, which was up 18 from the prior month. Unemployed stood at 546.
Area counties and their unemployment rates were: Douglas, 5.3; Howell, 5.5; Shannon, 7.5; and Wright, 5.3. The average in south-central Missouri was 5.6 percent.Â