ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.6 percent in December, with employers adding 9,500 new jobs.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development said Thursday that the seasonally adjusted rate remains well below the U.S. unemployment rate of 6.7 percent.

DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben said 11 of 12 major industrial sectors gained jobs last year. She said leading indicators point to continued growth in 2014.

Trade, transportation and utilities led all sectors last month with 4,600 new jobs. Job losses for the month occurred in leisure and hospitality, financial activities and other services.

Minnesota added a total of 45,900 jobs in the past year, a growth rate of 1.7 percent compared with a national rate of 1.6 percent.