(WKTV) - The nation's jobless rate rose to seven-point-two percent in December, that's up from 6.8% in November, the highest rate since 1993.

But how does New York State compare?

Mark Barbano, a regional economist with the New York State Department of Labor, based here in Utica says Central New York and the State as a whole are both below the national average.

Barbano says the month of December numbers for New York won't be out for two more weeks, but he compares the numbers from November of 2007 to November 2008.

Nationally, the rate went from 4.5% to 6.5%, New York State went from 4.4% to 5.9% and the Utica/Rome area went from 4.2 to 6.0%.

Barbano says "I'm sure it's going to get worse next year but there's certain areas that are declining in our area, manufacturing and finance. We do have some bright spots. Our government employment is up due to DFAS, and the Oneida Indian Nation is in our district, they've had long term increases, few layoffs lately."

About 4.5 million Americans are collecting unemployment benefits, tying up websites and phone systems like never before here in New York, and in North Carolina and Ohio.

Barbano says "there's also the extended unemployment benefits so not only do you have the regular 26 weeks, but there's extensions so that there's more people collecting, hopefully they can get some of those bugs worked out."