January 4th, 2013
09:00 AM ET

U.S. economy adds 155,000 jobs

December was a somewhat positive month for U.S. jobs, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

The U.S. economy added 155,000 jobs in December, roughly enough to keep pace with labor force growth, keeping the unemployment rate at 7.8% - unchanged from November's revised rate, the bureau said Friday morning. Health care was the sector with the greatest jump, with 45,000 jobs added.

The gain is slightly above the average monthly gain for 2012 and 2011, which was 153,000 per month, the bureau says.

As you mull these numbers, here's something to consider: They include those you might call the hopelessly unemployed, those who say they want a job but haven't searched for one in at least a year. CNNMoney reports that number is above 3.3 million, higher than the 2.5 million recorded five years ago, before a recession began. Who are they, and why have they given up? Check out this report from CNNMoney's Annalyn Kurtz.

See Bureau of Labor Statistics report on December jobs

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Filed under: Economy • Jobs
soundoff (20 Responses)
  1. bobcat (in a hat)©

    A fellow had just been hired as the new CEO of a large high tech corporation. The CEO who was stepping down met with him privately and presented him with three numbered envelopes. "Open these if you run up against a problem you don't think you can solve," he said.

    Well, things went along pretty smoothly, but six months later, sales took a downturn and he was really catching a lot of heat. About at his wit's end, he remembered the envelopes. He went to his drawer and took out the first envelope. The message read, "Blame your predecessor."

    The new CEO called a press conference and tactfully laid the blame at the feet of the previous CEO. Satisfied with his comments, the press - and Wall Street – responded positively, sales began to pick up and the problem was soon behind him.

    About a year later, the company was again experiencing a slight dip in sales, combined with serious product problems. Having learned from his previous experience, the CEO quickly opened the second envelope. The message read, "Reorganize." This he did, and the company quickly rebounded.

    After several consecutive profitable quarters, the company once again fell on difficult times. The CEO went to his office, closed the door and opened the third envelope.

    The message said, "Prepare three envelopes."

    January 4, 2013 at 11:31 am | Report abuse |
    • Anders Behring Breivik (King of the Island)

      What TV much? Must be a fan of Traffic!

      January 4, 2013 at 1:26 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      QUE ?

      January 4, 2013 at 5:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      Um, What ?

      January 4, 2013 at 6:54 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Rooster

    About 150,000 jobs must be added each month just to break even. Any reports of the UP rate going down have been false.
    The true UP rate hovers closer to 20% than to 10%, and in some inner cities UP rates among young black citizens hovers around 43%, leaving many ghetto dwellers with three career choices:
    1.) Gang banger
    2.) Bible thumper
    3.) Army
    (not necessarilly in that order)

    January 4, 2013 at 11:33 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Rooster's answer: drone inner cities.
      He said so yesterday.

      January 4, 2013 at 1:10 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      Hello banasy
      Is this clucker who I think ?

      January 4, 2013 at 1:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Hi, Rawr.
      Happy New Year.

      You have to ask?

      January 4, 2013 at 1:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      You're right banasy. I'll chalk it up to a brain fart, duh, moment.

      January 4, 2013 at 1:29 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Rooster Cogburn

    Many Americans used to be employed in factories that made lots of pollution. These factories have been decommissioned, and moved overseas. (mainly to China)
    Had these US factories stayed and employed Americans, factory pollution would have stayed as well.
    If every product Americans consume was made in the USA, everyone would have to wear a gas mask.

    January 4, 2013 at 11:38 am | Report abuse |
  4. Rooster Cogburn

    There would be a fixed dark cloud of pollution over the continental USA if everything we consume was manufactured in the USA.
    Americans consume 1/3 of what the earth produces and make 1/3 of the earths pollution while only accounting for 4% of the world population. If we keep this up, before long our nationwide obesity epidemic will spread to our own children and family pets. (a warning)

    January 4, 2013 at 11:44 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Take a page out of Bridget Bardot's book and move to Russia, comrade, since the USA obviously displeases you.

      January 4, 2013 at 1:14 pm | Report abuse |
  5. chrissy

    Good afternoon @ bobcat, and welcome back! :$

    January 4, 2013 at 12:27 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      Good afternoon chrissy

      I debated for a while on wether to bring a different personna into the new year, but I know I will not let myself be anyone but me. After all, it's hard to improve on perfection. LOL

      January 4, 2013 at 12:57 pm | Report abuse |
  6. chrissy

    Someone must be hittin the Dewars again eh @ bobcat? Lol.

    January 4, 2013 at 8:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      Hey, that's good sippin stuff. Well it looks like we're headed into another year gridlock by our teaparty favorites. I don't understand why the true republicans won't just group together and shut this disease down. Until the TP got involved in their unamerican takeover, there at least was a sense of compromise there. And I don't believe that the people that had put so much stock into their group originall y are still feeling the same way. 2014 will tell us how true of a statement that really is.

      January 4, 2013 at 8:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      And it sounds to me like big bird,above, may secretly be a TPer himself. He seems to be saying it was a good thing that americans jobs were outsourced, because it cut down on the amount of pollution. That is one heck of a trade off. I believe the majority of the people that were put out of work to feed the greed of the corporations would argue that point big time.

      January 4, 2013 at 8:25 pm | Report abuse |
  7. chrissy

    Lmao @ bobcat, theres a reason they call theirselves TP'ers and it has nothing to do with *tea* if you catch my drift! Lol

    January 4, 2013 at 8:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat (in a hat)©

      I'll remember that the next time I flush. LMAO

      January 4, 2013 at 9:06 pm | Report abuse |
  8. chrissy

    Lol i remembered.

    January 5, 2013 at 9:20 am | Report abuse |
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