NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee officials say unemployment rates continue to sear near record low levels.

The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday that the unemployment rate for December 2019 remained 3.3% for the second consecutive month.

The unemployment level was same as the year before.

"It's good to start 2020 with news that unemployment held steady during the busy holiday season in December," said Commissioner Jeff McCord in a statement.

Tennessee's all-time low unemployment rate was 3.2%, which was reached in February 2019.

According to the department, nonfarm employment increased by 2,000 positions in December. The manufacturing, trade/transportation/utilities, and leisure/hospitality sectors reported the highest number of new hires.

Nationally, the unemployment rate for December was 3.5% — which was the same as November's rate.