Metro Denver had the second-lowest unemployment rate in December out of all U.S. major metros

The Denver metro area closed 2016 with 40,187 people unemployed, according to a federal jobs report released Wednesday.

That’s more people out of work than the total number of residents who live in Northglenn, but only 2.6 percent of metro Denver’s workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Out of the 51 major metros with 1 million or more people, Denver had the second lowest unemployment rate, behind Boston’s metro (2.5 percent).

Closer to home, Denver had the lowest unemployment rate in the state, tied with Greeley. Colorado overall averaged a 2.7 percent unemployment — down one percentage point from November.

Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at agarcia@denverite.com or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.