Washington added an estimated 2,100 jobs in December, while the estimated unemployment rate increased slightly from 9.2 percent to 9.3 percent.

Job numbers and the unemployment rate are derived from separate surveys. Due to margins of error, the surveys sometimes generate conflicting results.

Industries that added jobs last month included manufacturing, up 1,400; retail trade, up 1,300; professional and business services, up 800; education and health services, up 400; transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 300; wholesale trade, up 200; and leisure and hospitality, up 200.

Jobs were lost in financial activities, down 900; construction, down 900; mining and logging, down 200; other services, down 200; government, down 200; and information, down 100.

An estimated 324,270 people (not seasonally adjusted) in Washington were unemployed and looking for work, and 245,225 people received unemployment benefits from Washington in December.

For all of 2010, Washington added 11,800 private-sector jobs. Factoring in a substantial loss of government jobs, there was an estimated net gain of 8,000 jobs during the past 12 months.

Employment Security is a partner in the statewide WorkSource system, which offers a variety of employment and training services for job seekers, including free help with interviewing skills, résumés and job referrals. WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen for qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training.

Locations of local WorkSource offices are listed online at www.go2worksource.com. Assistance also is available by phone at 877-872-5627.

In addition, more than 16,000 job openings are posted online at www.go2worksource.com.