Unemployment Rate Falls To Lowest Level Since 2008

In this Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, photo, Austin Moore, 18, lines up with other job seekers during a career fair at a hotel in Dallas. Fears of an economic slowdown are heightening anticipation of what U.S. jobs repo... In this Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, photo, Austin Moore, 18, lines up with other job seekers during a career fair at a hotel in Dallas. Fears of an economic slowdown are heightening anticipation of what U.S. jobs report for January might reveal. (AP Photo/LM Otero) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. capped its best year for hiring in 15 years with a healthy job gain in December and the unemployment rate falling to a six-year low. The data adds to signs of strength that contrast with sputtering global growth.

The Labor Department says employers added 252,000 jobs last month and 50,000 more in October and November combined than previously estimated. The unemployment rate dropped to 5.6 percent from 5.8 percent and is at the lowest level since June 2008.

Yet wage growth remains weak. Average hourly pay slipped 5 cents. And the unemployment rate fell partly because many of the unemployed gave up looking for work. The government doesn’t count people as unemployed if they aren’t searching for jobs.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. Damn that Obama, it’s a Communist conspiracy!

  2. Thank you Mitch McConnell!! You and the Repubs are some sort of Magicians!!

  3. Avatar for clk clk says:

    I bet it’s Obama’s fault that gas prices haven’t soared to $10 a gallon, also. Boy you just can believe what they say on Fox anymore.

  4. Not a peep from the MSM…no no…

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