Beaufort County’s unemployment rate was below 10 percent fifth month in a row, declining from 8.4 percent in November 2013 to 8 percent in December 2013, according to information from the N.C. Labor and Economic Analysis branch of the N.C. Labor Department.

The state’s unemployment rate was at 6.6 percent in December 2013, down from 6.9 percent in November 2013. The latest unemployment data was released at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Attempts to contact Neal Anderson, manager of the NCWorks office (formerly the Employment Security Commission) in Washington, and the director of the Beaufort County Career Center for comments on the December 2013 unemployment rate for Beaufort County were not successful by late Wednesday afternoon.

Statewide, 86 of the 100 counties saw their unemployment rates decline from November 2013 to December 2013, according to LEAD figures. Eleven counties saw their unemployment rates increase from November 2013 to December 2013. Three counties saw their jobless rates remain the same from November 2013 to December 2013.

After several years of double-digit unemployment rates, the county has experienced five consecutive months in 2013 in which the unemployment rate was below 10 percent — 9.9 percent in August, 9.1 percent for September and October, 8.4 percent for November and 8 percent in December.

Beaufort County’s work force was at 19,958 people in December, with 1,600 people unable to secure employment, according to LEAD figures. That meant 18,358 people from the work force were working and earning paychecks.

During December, six counties had jobless rates at or below 5 percent, 89 counties had jobless rates between 5 percent and 10 percent and five counties had unemployment rates at or above 10 percent, according to LEAD numbers.

Scotland County had the highest jobless rate in December 2013 at 12.6 percent. Orange County had the lowest unemployment rate in December 2013 at 4.1 percent.

The jobless figures released by LEAD do not include unemployed people whose unemployment insurance benefits expired and who are not listed as unemployed. Factor in those people and a county’s true jobless rate is higher.