* Unemployment rate - 6.6 per cent versus 6.8 per cent in November

* Underemployment rate (employed people seeking additional work) - 8.5 per cent versus 9.4 per cent

* Employment rose 50,000

* Full-time positions rose 35,700

* Part-time employment rose 14,300

* Participation rate (people working or looking for work): 66.2 per cent versus 66.1 per cent

STATE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES

NSW - 6.4 per cent in December versus 6.5 per cent in November

Vic - 6.5 per cent versus 7.1 per cent

Qld - 7.5 per cent versus 7.7 per cent

SA - 6.4 per cent versus 6.2 per cent

WA - 6.2 per cent versus 6.3 per cent

Tas - 7.0 per cent versus 7.9 per cent

NT - 5.4 per cent versus 5.9 per cent

ACT - 3.7 per cent versus 4.0 per cent

(Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)

Australian Associated Press