NASHVILLE (AP) - Tennessee's unemployment rate fell 0.4 percent in December to 8.7 percent, the lowest in three years.

State officials said Thursday that 11,200 people gained employment last month over November when the rate was 9.1 percent.

From November to December, professional and business services increased 5,400 jobs; durable goods manufacturing was up 1,000 jobs; and clothing and accessories stores rose by 700 jobs.

Losing jobs were leisure and hospitality, down 3,500; state government educational services, down 2,500; and mining, logging and construction, down 1,900.

It's the lowest rate since December 2008 when the figure was 8.4 percent.

The national figure for last month was 8.5 percent, down 0.2 percent.