MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin gained an estimated 4,500 private sector jobs last month.

That’s according to preliminary data released by the state’s Workforce Development agency Thursday afternoon.

But the gains were almost off-set by a reported loss of 3,800 local government and public school jobs.

The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate held steady from November – and it remains at 6.6 percent.

The data on job growth is based on federal surveys of 3.5 percent of Wisconsin’s employers. The figures are often revised when more complete data comes in.