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In this photo taken Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014, Jessica Pimentel, of Hollywood, Fla., fills out a job application during a job fair in Sunrise. Fla.

(Alan Diaz/Associated Press)

UPDATE, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2:55 p.m.: Greater Springfield unemployment rate drops to 5.9 percent; trade, transportation, utilities lead job gains

SPRINGFIELD — The unemployment rate in the city of Springfield fell seven-tenths of a percentage point in December to 8 percent.

The number undoubtedly reflects a spate of holiday hiring. But a year ago, in December 2013, the city's unemployment rate was 10.5 percent, so this year's number reflects an improving labor market.

This is the lowest the city of Springfield's unemployment rate has been since it was 7.6 percent in June 2008. The state points out, though, that these rates are not adjusted for seasonal changes in the economy, so they move around within the year. The rate is lowest for a December since the per-recession days of December 2007 when the rate was 6.7 percent.

The state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development and the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released local jobless numbers Thursday.

Unemployment rates were down in 17 labor market areas across the state, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development said. Two areas remained unchanged and three areas were up seasonally over the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the year, unemployment rates were down in all of the labor market areas across Massachusetts.

Other numbers released Thursday:

In Springfield, the number of

In Springfield, the number of

The Springfield

At 8 percent,

Holyoke

As a region,

Greater Springfield

As a region,

Worcester

Statewide, the unadjusted unemployment rate estimate for December was 4.8 percent, down 0.4 of a percentage point from the November rate. Over the year, the statewide unadjusted rate was down 1.9 percent from the December 2013 rate of 6.7 percent.

Nationally

MassLive will have additional reporting today on the latest unemployment report