In comparison, joblessness in Las Vegas soared to 9.1 percent in December 2008, according to the Labor Department, a 3.5 percent increase over December 2007. Denver had a 1.9 percent increase, to 6.3 percent. Salt Lake's unemployment increased 1.1 percent, to 3.8 percent; and Provo-Orem's also increased 1.1 percent, to 3.7 percent.

Nationwide, more than 100,000 job cuts have been announced since December, sparing few communities. The government's next monthly snapshot of nationwide unemployment is expected to show the January rate climbed to a 17-year high, to a seasonally adjusted 7.5 percent. Layoffs were announced Wednesday by Botox maker Allergan Inc., and Time Warner Cable Inc., for a total of 1,700 jobs lost.

"Industries that at first appeared to be immune to downturns, such as computer and pharmaceutical, are now rapidly shedding workers," said John Challenger, chief of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, a placement firm.

President Barack Obama and Congress are negotiating a nearly $900 billion stimulus package intended to pump up consumer spending and create jobs. Even if it is quickly enacted, unemployment will keep rising and the country as a whole probably will lose up to 3 million jobs this year, economists predict.

Contributing: Associated Press

E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com