The December unemployment rates in 15 U.S. states increased from November according to a report released Tuesday. However, in a majority of states and in the District of Columbia, the rates remained unchanged. The report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows nonfarm payroll employment levels were essentially unchanged for all states. Over the past year, employment increased in 30 states but was mostly unchanged in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The worst increases in unemployment were seen in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, both with a 0.3 percentage point increase. Minnesota was the only state with a decrease, dropping by 0.2 percentage point. The states with the lowest unemployment rates were Maryland and North Dakota, both at 1.9%, while Nevada had the highest at 5.4%, unchanged from November. In the U.S., the national unemployment rate came in at 3.7% for December, the same as November. Economic growth was observed with 216,000 jobs added in December, up from November’s 173,000.