The state's unemployment rate for November remained steady at 5.1 percent last month, despite gains in the private sector. Economist Annette Nielsen at New Hampshire Employment Security says health services and retail jobs are still growing, but the strongest growth here is in construction:
Especially special trade contractors is up 1700 over the year, and that’s really tied mostly to the strength of the housing market.
Nielsen the overall unemployment rate has stayed stagnant despite these gains because of job losses in the public sector: particularly in local government and public schools.