Washington – U.S. Employers Added 292,000 Jobs In December

Washington – American employers added a strong 292,000 jobs in December, suggesting the U.S. economy may defy global trends and expand at a solid pace this year.

The Labor Department says the unemployment rate remained 5 percent for the third straight month, as more Americans started looking for work and found jobs.

The government also said employers added 50,000 more jobs in October and November than previously estimated. Hiring averaged 284,000 a month in the fourth quarter. That’s the best three-month pace in a year.

The strong figures underscore the resilience of the U.S. economy at a time of global turmoil stemming from China’s slowing economy and plummeting stock market. Most economists expect solid U.S. consumer spending will offset any overseas drag, though many forecast only modest growth.