Unemployment Rises in Attleboro, Seekonk

More people were looking for work in Attleboro and Seekonk in December than were in November, according to statistics released Tuesday from the state's Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The December unemployment rate was 8.4 percent in Attleboro (up from 8.3 percent in November and also 8.3 percent in December of 2011) and 8.3 percent in Seekonk (up from 8.1 percent in November and down from 8.9 percent in December 2011).

The total number of Attleboro residents working in December was 22,265, down from 22,365 in November and 22,418 in December 2011. In Seekonk, the total number of residents working in December was 6,842, down from 6,873 in November and 6,889 in December 2011.

Statewide, the unemployment rate went up from 6.6 percent in November to 6.7 percent in December. The rate was 6.9 percent in December 2011. The national December unemployment rate was 8.5 percent.