The December jobless rate according to the Bureau for Labor Statistics remained at 7.8 percent, same as November. The economy added 155,000 new jobs in the month. While November’s unemployment rate was revised slightly higher from the 7.7 percent initially reported.
The number of unemployed people now stands at 12.2 million, which shows little change from the prior month.
In December, employment rose in health care, food services, construction and manufacturing. The construction sector was the most robust adding 30,000 jobs in the month.
The Hispanic unemployment rate showed little to no change staying at 9.6 percent. Teenagers and African Americans continue to have the highest rates of unemployment, 23.5 percent and 14.0 percent, respectively.
