US unemployment rate lower than expected
The US unemployment rate fell to 5.9% in November, better than forecast and was the the lowest rate since 5.8 % was reported in March.
This is the fourth month in a row that payrolls have rose, the Labor Department reported today.
54.7% of 278 industries added to their payrolls, up from 53.6% in October.
The average workweek rose by six minutes to 33.9 hours, while the factory workweek rose by 12 minutes.
Job losses in manufacturing have slowed in recent months, with 17,000 fewer jobs in November after job losses averaging 53,000 earlier.
Services producing industries added 64,000 workers, including 25,000 in health care and 21,000 in temporary help services.
Retail lost 28,000, due to recent grocery strikes.
Nearly half a million people joined the American labor force in November.
The participation rate is now 66.3%.
