Topeka ? Kansas economists say the state’s December unemployment rate was unchanged from the previous month at 6.3 percent.

The state’s jobless rate stood at 4.9 percent in December 2008. The Kansas Department of Labor released the new numbers Friday.

Four of the state’s 11 major industries gained jobs in December, with most of the new hiring in the financial activities sector.

Kansas recorded 30,422 first-time filings for unemployment benefits in December — about 6,000 more than in November, but down by roughly 7,000 from December 2008.

State labor economist Tyler Tenbrink says one sign of weakness was in the retail sector, which reported lower-than-average hiring during the holiday season.