Minnesota officials said today that the state unemployment rate in December was 5.5 percent, far below the national rate of 7.8 percent.

Minnesota added 9,100 jobs in December, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reported.

The seasonally adjusted rate of 5.5 percent is slightly better than the revised rate in November of 5.6 percent unemployment in the state.

DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben said in a statement:

"The state labor market is growing at a brisk pace, gaining more than 21,000 jobs in the final two months of 2012. Minnesota is recovering jobs well ahead of the rest of the country and is positioned to stay on that course in coming months."

The biggest gaining sector in December was Trade, Transportation and Utilities, which picked up 3,900 jobs.

The biggest losing sector: Construction, which was down 3,500 jobs.