Louisiana's unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent in December, but a separate survey of payrolls showed significant job losses last month. Still, it capped a strong year for the state's labor market. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers released Friday show Louisiana unemployment fell from 5.8 percent in November and 7 percent in December 2011. The number of unemployed Louisianans fell to 115,000 from 120,000 in November. In December 2011, 144,000 Louisianans were unemployed. The broadest measure of those who are seeking work averaged 12.7 percent in Louisiana over the 12 months ending Oct. 31, the most recent figures available. That number includes people who are working part time because they can't find a full-time job, are looking for work only sporadically, or have given up looking.