That's up slightly from November's 7.2 percent, state labor officials say.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) _ Maine Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette says December's unemployment rate in the state was 7.3 percent, up slightly from November's 7.2 percent.

Using figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Paquette says 51,400 Mainers were unemployed in December, up 1,600 over the year.

By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate was estimated at 7.8 percent in December, unchanged from November and down from 8.5 percent a year earlier.