Jobs Growth in 2012 Better Than Initial Estimates

Washington, DC, Feb. 1, 2013 -- Employers created 157,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate edged up to 7.9%, according to the Labor Department.

However, the economy added 335,000 more jobs in 2012 than previously estimated.

Analysts expected that 170,000 jobs would be added.

The number of new jobs created in December was revised to 196,000 from 155,000. November’s figure was revised to 247,000 from 161,000.

In January, meanwhile, the largest gains in hiring took place in retail (33,000), construction (28,000), and health care (23,000).