Employers expanded payrolls by 199,000 jobs in November, according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This figure is above analysts’ projections of about 185,000 jobs.
The latest jobs report also notes that new job creation in September and October was lower than previously reported — by 35,000 positions.
Employers in private education and health services reported robust payroll expansion last month, adding 99,000 jobs. The government and leisure and hospitality sectors experienced solid job growth last month as well — adding 49,000 jobs and 40,000 jobs, respectively.
The BLS reports that these industries also saw job gains in November:
Manufacturing: 28,000 jobs addedInformation: 10,000 jobs addedWholesale trade: 8,300 jobs addedFinancial activities: 4,000 jobs added
Some industries experienced payroll contraction last month, including retail trade. Employment in that sector decreased by 38,400 jobs in November.
The November jobs report from the BLS shows that the national unemployment rate was 3.7% last month, down from 3.9% in October. Analysts had projected that the rate would hold steady.
For the third consecutive month, the unemployment rate for college-degreed workers who are 25 or older — the professionals most highly sought-after by many employers — was 2.1%.
