Iowa posted the lowest unemployment rate among all states in December at 2.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Hawaii and New Hampshire were next at 2.5% each, followed by Idaho at 2.6%.

Alaska recorded the highest jobless rate among all states at 6.3% in December.

Unemployment rates fell in December in three states: Delaware, Maryland, and North Dakota all posted 0.1 percentage-point decreases.

Four states had month-over-month rate increases; Colorado and Oregon posted 0.2 percentage-point increases, while jobless rates in Arizona and New Mexico edged up by 0.1% percentage point each.