Although makers of computers and electronic products added 5,000 jobs to their payrolls in November, they were not enough to offset job losses elsewhere in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.
As a result manufacturing lost 15,000 jobs last month, lowering total employment in the sector to 14.16 million jobs, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Dec. 8.
Within manufacturing, 7,000 jobs were lost in motor vehicles and parts. And, noted the department, employment continued to decline in two construction-related industries. Wood products lost 6,000 jobs, and 5,000 jobs were lost in furniture and related products.
Overall, the U.S. economy generated 132,000 jobs in November, about 30,000 more jobs than economists generally expected but still below the 150,000-job average monthly increase need to keep up with U.S. population growth.
The civilian labor force unemployment rate edged up to 4.5% in November from 4.4% in October.
