WASHINGTON, Dec 6 — US job creation soared last month as hospitals, hotels and schools raced to add new workers, wiping away fears that November would be a lacklustre month, according to a key government report today.
Payrolls also got a boost as autoworkers were back on the job after a six-week nationwide strike at General Motors plants, according to the Labour Department.
The surprise hiring burst is sure to delight President Donald Trump as he faces impeachment and a bitter reelection campaign.
US firms added a massive 266,000 net new positions, shattering economists’ expectations, while the jobless rate fell a tenth of a point to 3.5 per cent, mainly because of a small decline in the workforce
Job gains in September and October also were revised upward by a total of 41,000, underscoring the strength of labour markets.
Economists in recent days had begun to worry that America’s appetite for workers was on the wane, as some signs pointed to slackening demand for labour as well as a dwindling supply of workers.
But the continued hiring bonanza should bolster the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep the benchmark interest rate stable after three cuts this year, with central bankers believing more stimulus is unnecessary.
Job creation has slowed this year, however, as employers on average have added 180,000 workers a month, down from the 223,000 average monthly gains in 2018.
Wages crept higher in November but more slowly than forecast.
Meanwhile, the dip in the jobless rate came with a drop in labour force as people left the job hunt or retired. — AFP
