More St. Lawrence County residents received unemployment benefits in December than the same month a year ago, and more people were working, according to preliminary figures from the state Department of Labor.

Last month, there were 2,900 people receiving unemployment benefits for a rate of 6.7 percent. That compares to 2,800 people receiving benefits and a 6.6 percent rate in December 2016, DOL said. There were 40,200 people working in St. Lawrence County last month and 39,800 the same month in 2016, according to the DOL report.

To the east in Franklin County, 1,200 people received benefits last month for a 6.4 percent unemployment rate. In December 2016, 1,100 people received unemployment in the county for a 5.9 percent jobless rate. There were 18,400 people employed there last month and 18,100 the same month in 2016.

To the west in Jefferson County, there were 3,300 people on the dole last month for a 7.2 percent unemployment rate. That compares to 3,200 people receiving benefits in December 2016 for a 7.1 percent rate. There were 42,100 people working last month in the county, up from 41,400 the same month the prior year, DOL said.