MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota' unemployment rate held steady at 7.1 percent in November, remaining nearly 3 percentage points lower than the national rate.

The Minnesota Department of Economic Development reports Thursday that employment declined by 5,100 jobs during the month, but that was somewhat offset by revised October figures that added 1,900 jobs.

The department says the state has added 44,800 jobs so far this year, a growth rate of 1.7 percent. That beats the national rate of 0.6 percent.

Government gained the most state jobs in November at 3,500.

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