U.S. Economy Adds 167,000 Jobs

U.S. employers added a healthy 167,000 new jobs in December, the government said in a report Jan. 4 that suggested upbeat economic conditions despite evidence of a slowdown.

Job growth was strong last month in the services and business sectors, which added 178,000 and 50,000 positions respectively, but these gains were offset by losses in other industries.

The manufacturing industry shed 12,000 positions, the goods-producing sector lost 11,000 jobs and the construction sector laid off 3,000 workers.

The December jobless rate was stable at 4.5%, in line with forecasts.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007