Tennessee’s unemployment rate for December was 5.3 percent, up 0.4 percent from November. Jobs commissioner James Neeley said the increase in Tennessee’s rate is consistent with what’s happening across the nation. Accommodation and food services employment saw month-to-month declines, down by 1,100. There were also decreases in state government educational services, down 900 jobs, and machinery manufacturing lost 600 jobs. Over the year, the highest employment declines were in manufacturing, decreasing by 7,400. Professional and business services employment lost 1,800 jobs and clothing and accessories stores declined by 1,600.