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US adds a quarter of a million jobs in December US economy adds 252,000 jobs in December
(35 minutes later)
The US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell from 5.8% to 5.6% according to Labor Department figures. The US economy added 252,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate fell to 5.6% from 5.8%, according to Labor Department figures.
That was higher than the consensus forecast of 240,000. The jobs figure was higher than analysts' expectations of 240,000.
Figures for October and November were both revised upwards. In addition, figures for the number of jobs created in October and November were both revised upwards.
The fall in the jobless rate was largely due to a drop in the number of people seeking work. The jobless rate is now at its lowest since June 2008.
The strongest jobs growth was in professional and business services, construction, healthcare and food services, according to the data released by the US Labor Department.
However, there was little improvement in December for part-time workers wishing to work more hours, and average hourly earnings fell by 0.2%.
Over the whole of 2014, job creation averaged 246,000 a month.