The U.S. economy added 216,000 jobs in December, slightly higher than expected, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7%.
The latest figures confirm a surprisingly robust job market despite predictions of a recession last year. Previous month figures, in November and October, were revised down, but they still showed job gains. The December figures also were higher than expectations, as analysts had predicted figures of less than 200,000 in gains.
The figures showed an uptick in jobs in entertainment as the industry recovers from dual strikes. Employment in motion pictures and sound recording climbed by 11,400 jobs to 463,000.
More to come.
