Unemployment Rate Unchanged in December

Nonfarm employment increased by 167,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.5 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reports. 

Job gains occurred in several service-providing industries, including professional and business services, health care and food services.  Average hourly earnings rose by 8 cents, or 0.5 percent, in
December.

The number of unemployed persons (6.8 million) was about unchanged in December, and the unemployment rate held at 4.5 percent.  Over the year, these measures declined from 7.3 million and 4.9 percent, respectively.