Year Ends With 7.8% Unemployment Rate

Washington, DC, Jan. 4, 2013 -- The economy added155,000 jobs in December and 2012 ended with a 7.8% unemployment rate, according to the Labor Department.

That was unchanged from November's unemployment rate, which was revised up from 7.7% to 7.8%.

Private employers added 168,000 jobs last month while public employers cut 13,000.

Employment totals for October and November were also revised higher by 14,000 jobs over initial reports.

Construction gained 30,000 jobs, and manufacturing jobs increased by 25,000.