The unemployment rate in Newfoundland and Labrador dropped by close to half a percentage point last month, but it remains in the double digits.

The rate for December was 10.4 per cent, down from 10.8 in November.

Nationally, there was little change with the rate dropping 0.1 percentage points to 6.7 per cent.

Statistics Canada says the bulk of new jobs came in education, transportation, and finance — mostly in full-time positions.

In the St. John’s metro region, unemployment rose slightly to 6.8 per cent from 6.7.