December's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates were down in the Boston area while the rates for the remaining 21 areas reflected seasonal changes, according to the Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

Statewide, the December seasonally unadjustedunemployment rate was 6.5 percent, up from 6.4 percent in November. Over-the-year the statewide rate was down 1.5 percentage points from the 8.0 percent rate recorded for December 2010.  All twenty-two labor area rates were down over the year. 

Locally Lynn showed the highest rate at 7.9 with 3,326 people unemployed in December. The lowest rate was in Topsfield were 129 people were unemployed in December - a rate of 4.3.