INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s unemployment rate remained steady in December from November.

The Indiana Department of Workforce Development said Friday the rate was 3.6 percent.

The state’s unemployment rate remained below the national rate of 3.9 percent. With the exception of October 2014, when it was equal to the national rate, the state’s unemployment rate has been below the U.S. rate for more than five years.

Indiana’s labor force had a net increase of more than 1,500 over the previous month, which was a result of less than 100 unemployed residents no longer seeking employment and an increase of nearly 1,500 in residents employed. The state says Indiana’s total labor force is about 3.4 million.