United States unemployment fell sharply to 9,4% in December, its lowest level since May 2009, the US labour department said on Friday.
The economy created 103 000 jobs, much less than expected, but the unemployment rate blew expectations out of the water, easing from 9,8%.
Employment rose in the leisure, hospitality and healthcare sectors but “changed little in other major industries”, the department reported.
Many fewer jobs were created than the 150 000 expected by economists, reiterating the recent trend of steady but unspectacular job growth.
Since December 2009, payrolls have grown by 1,1-million, an average of 94 000 each month.
Despite predictions of a bump in retail hiring to coincide with the Christmas sales, the retail trade added just 12 000 jobs.
The number of people participating in the labour market fell slightly, usually a factor that pushes down unemployment.
But the number of people discouraged from looking for work was still high.
“There were 1,3-million discouraged workers in December, an increase of 389 000 from December 2009,” the labour department said. — AFP