Butler County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly from 8.1 percent in November to 8 percent in December, according to figures released Friday by the Alabama Department of Labor.

The number of unemployed residents in Butler County decreased from 704 people in November to 691 people in December.

The rate also marked a 1.9 percent decrease from December of 2012, when Butler County’s unemployment rate was 9.9 percent.

The state also saw a drop in its jobless rate.

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees said that Alabama’s December preliminary unemployment rate is 6.1 percent, down from November’s rate of 6.2 percent, and below December 2012’s rate of 6.8 percent.

The latest figures represent 129,743 unemployed persons, down from 132,301 in November, and 145,613 in December 2012.

The last time the state’s unemployment rate was at or below 6.1 percent was in October 2008, when the rate was 5.9 percent.

“While we are certainly pleased to announce that our unemployment rate is at a five-year low, we know that we are not in a perfect situation, employment wise,” said Surtees. “There are still more than 120,000 Alabamians who want a job, and we must focus our efforts on helping those people find work.”