Employers Add 112,000 Jobs in October, Unemploymen
Washington, DC. December 3--Employers added 112,000 workers in November, less than the 200,000 that economists has expected, but the jobless rate dropped to 5.4 percent from 5.5 percent, according to the Labor Department.
The jobless rate was forecast to fall to 5.4 percent.
Job growth in the prior two months was revised down by 54,000. Employment rose 303,000 in October, less than initially reported. Factory jobs fell for a third month in November and retail employment declined.
Manufacturers lost 5,000 jobs after a decline of 2,000 in October. Retail employment decreased 16,200 in November, the second decline in three months.
Construction jobs rose by 11,000 last month after rising by 65,000 in October.
Employment in service-producing industries, which include retailers, banks and government agencies, rose 104,000 last month after a 241,000 increase in October, today's report showed.
The manufacturing workweek fell by six minutes to 40.5 hours and overtime held at 4.5 hours. Average weekly hours worked by production workers fell to 33.7 hours from 33.8 hours.
Workers' average hourly earnings rose 0.1 percent, or 1 cent, to $15.83 after 4-cent gain in October.
Economists had expected a 0.3 percent increase in hourly wages. Average weekly earnings fell to $533.47 last month from $534.72.
