A combination of more people looking for work and a seasonal lull in construction led to Mercer County's jobless rate rising from 4.1 percent in November to 4.8 percent in December.

Still, the county's unemployment rate was below the state's 5.5 percent rate and the national 5.7 percent rate.

Mercer County ranked 14th among the state's 67 counties in terms of the best unemployment rate and was 5th among the state's 43 metropolitan labor market areas.

Overall, the local economy was underperforming compared to the same year-ago period, said the state Department of Labor and Industry.

Goods producers cut payrolls by 300 jobs from last December, with 75 percent of the losses coming in construction and mining. Despite low interest rates, construction was down slightly from last year. Also, factories reduced employment levels by 200 from last December.

Service producers gained 100 jobs in December, with advances in services, finance, insurance and real estate, and government slightly outdistancing a modest pullback in retail trade.

Figures show employment fell by 600 in December to 54,900, while those unemployed advanced 300 to 2,700 in December. The civilian labor force stood at 57,600 in December, down 300 from both November and December 2001.

Average weekly earnings of production workers were $655.63 in December, a $37.10 increase from a year ago due primarily to an 87-cent gain in average hourly pay.

Forest County had the highest jobless rate in the state at 15.9 percent, while Centre County had the lowest at 3.5 percent.

Surrounding counties' unemployment rates in December were:

   » Lawrence County, 7.3 percent.

   » Butler County, 5.3 percent.

   » Crawford County, 7.1 percent.

   » Venango County, 6.1 percent.

Sharon's jobless rate in December was 5.8 percent. A rate is kept for Sharon because it's Mercer County's largest city.