Morningstar

December US Jobs Report: Expected Slowdown Materializes With 50,000 Rise in Payrolls

The unemployment rate fell to 4.4%.

Collage with factory, plane, computer, tire, and shopping bag to represent the state of economy.

The US economy added 50,000 jobs in December, according to the latest report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate fell to 4.4% from 4.5% in November.

Nonfarm payroll employment had been forecast to show an increase of 55,000, down from an increase of 64,000 initially reported in November, according to FactSet. That November gain has since been revised down to 56,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate had been forecast to remain steady at 4.5%.

December Jobs Report Key Stats

  • Total nonfarm payrolls rose by 50,000 after rising by 56,000 in November.
  • The unemployment rate fell to 4.4% in December from 4.5% in November.
  • In December, average hourly wages rose by 12 cents, or 0.3%, to $37.02.

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