(RALEIGH) -- The state Commerce Department said Friday the unemployment rate was 9.2 percent in December, compared with 9.1 percent in November.

That's down from 10.4 percent in December 2011. Spokesman Larry Parker says the job picture over time is better.

"Going back to early 2010 North Carolina has gained 154,200 jobs and that's very impressive when you look at the fact that North Carolina lost a little over 300,000 during the height of the recession."

The state started the year with a 10.2 percent rate last January.