LITTLE ROCK—Arkansas’ unemployment rose to 6.2 percent December, but remained a percentage point lower than the national rate.

The Department of Workforce Services said Tuesday the Arkansas rate rose from 5.7 percent in November. The national unemployment rate for December was 7.2 percent.

The agency reported an increase of 5,900 people unemployed last month from the previous month’s figure for a total of 84,400 people without jobs in December.

“Arkansas rising unemployment rate mirrors the trend seen across the country, as continuing layoffs and closures occur around the state,” department spokeswoman Kimberly Friedman said.

The number of people with jobs fell to 1,285,900 from 1,300,200 from November to December.

Manufacturers in Fort Smith have laid off hundreds of workers. Many of those companies are tied to the Whirlpool Corp. refrigerator plant, which itself has cut about 2,000 jobs and has slashed production.

Job losses in Arkansas are certain to grow. Windmill blade maker LM Glasfiber in Little Rock has announced it will lay off 150 workers in March. Hytrol Conveyor Co. in Jonesboro is to lay off 100 people. Automobile dealers were closing in a number of Arkansas communities, and auto parts manufacturers in the state were feeling the effects of diminished orders.

The Workforce Services Department reported 1,700 manufacturing jobs lost in December, 3,400 in leisure and hospitality and 1,500 government jobs.

Trade, transportation and utilities lost 1,400 jobs, mainly in transportation, and construction saw a drop of 1,300 jobs. Health care and educational services saw a decline of 1,500 for the month.

Since December 2007, the state has seen a loss of 18,800 jobs.

But the state has also seen some encouraging economic news. Caterpillar Inc. said it remains on track to open a factory in North Little Rock, despite a plan to lay off 20,000 workers nationwide. LM Glasfiber said it expects orders to recover once the economy turns around, and other wind energy businesses that have announced plans to open in the state said they will go forward with construction.

Southwestern Energy Co. is to open a regional headquarters in Conway as part of development attached to Hendrix College.