By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Unemployment rates in Kansas -- even in northwest Kansas where the rates are razor thin -- continue to drop.

Statewide unemployment in December fell slightly to 5.9 percent, even though 6,000 seasonal jobs were lost. The seasonally adjusted employment rate fell as well, down to 6.3 percent.

Northwest Kansas unemployment, however, continued its downward spiral and now stands at 3.4 percent, according to unemployment statistics issued by the Kansas Department of Labor.

That's down nearly a quarter of 1 percent from November.

Area unemployment now is so low that Ness County, for example, with a 2.4-percent unemployment rate, has only 43 people actively looking for work.

Part of that low unemployment rate there would be tied to robust oil exploration.

Sporting a 2.6-percent unemployment rate, Logan County would be similar with oil exploration strongly under way in the southern part of the county. Logan County, with a workforce of just 1,760 people, has 46 people looking for work.

Ellis County, simply because it has the largest workforce in the region, also has the biggest number of people looking for work.

In December, 555 people were considered to be actively looking for work in Ellis County.

Still the unemployment rate stood at 2.9 percent, according to DOL.

Overall, there is a slightly larger workforce in northwest Kansas.

Currently, the civilian labor force in the 20-county area includes 62,251 people. A year ago, in December 2010, that number stood at 61,121. In December 2009, there were only 56,758 people in the civilian workforce.

Ellis County's work force has grown by nearly 3,000.

Across the state, conditions are improving.

Kansas gained 12,400 jobs in 2011, a slight increase.

Highlights of the December report:

* Six of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-year job gains, primarily in professional and business services, adding 8,200 jobs. Manufacturing gained 6,000 jobs, a 3.8-percent increase. Education and health services gained 4,700 jobs, most in health care and social assistance.

* Five of the 11 major industries reported statewide over-the-year job losses. Financial activities lost 3,500 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities lost 2,900 jobs and information lost 2,500 jobs.

* Three of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported over-the-month job gains, the biggest gains in trade, transportation and utilities, information and manufacturing.

* Seven of the 11 major industries reported statewide over-the-month job losses, most in construction, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

* There were 23,985 initial claims for unemployment benefits in December 2011, up from 18,283 initial claims in November 2011, but down from 27,889 a year earlier.

* There were 188,082 continuing claims in December 2011, up from 182,778 in November 2011 but down from 229,788 in December 2010.