WASHINGTON (Jan. 8, 2016) — Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 292,000 jobs in December, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The unemployment rate remained steady at 5 percent, the BLS said in its Jan. 8 report.
The employment sectors with the biggest gains were professional and business services (up 73,000 jobs); construction (up 45,000 jobs); health care (up 39,000 jobs); food services and drinking places (up 37,000 jobs); and transportation and warehousing (up 23,000 jobs).
Manufacturing, however, changed little in December, although non-durable manufacturing gained 14,000 jobs, the BLS said.