Georgia’s unemployment rate is up again. The 10.2 percent mark for December is a two-tenths of a point rise over the previous month.

For more than three years, the state’s jobless rate has topped the national rate, which is currently at 9.4.

New numbers from the state’s Department of Labor Thursday show a decrease of more than 21,000 payroll jobs last month. Most of the decreases came in construction, leisure and hospitality, the public schools, professional and business services, and wholesale trade.

There are also more than 259,000 Georgians considered “long term unemployed” -- out of work for over six months.

Tags: Georgia, unemployment, Department of Labor, construction, jobless rate, leisure, hospitality