Arizona's unemployment rate is rising.
The Department of Administration's economic research staff reports that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 4.5 percent in December from 4.3 percent in November.
The rate was 5 percent a year ago.
The researchers' monthly report released Thursday says Arizona's economy added 5,700 nonfarm jobs in December for a gain that was slightly less than the average of 6,000 job since after the Great Recession.
Increases in private sector employment accounted for the jobs gain.
