Jobs Increase in December, Unemployment Falls

Washington, DC, Jan. 7, 2011 -- Payrolls in the U.S. rose 103,000 in December compared with the median forecast of 150,000, according to the Labor Department, while the unemployment rate fell.

The jobless rate fell to 9.4%, the lowest level since May 2009.

Construction payrolls declined by the most since May and professional and business services added the fewest number of jobs in five months.

November employment rose 71,000, more than an initially reported gain of 39,000. Payrolls in November and October combined were 70,000 more than previously estimated.

For all of 2010, about 1.1 million jobs were created, the most since 2006.

The unemployment rate was forecast to fall to 9.7%.

Private payrolls, which exclude government agencies, rose by 113,000 last month after a 79,000 November gain.

Manufacturing payrolls rose by 10,000 in December.