HUFFINGTON POST: U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs in December, a steady gain that shows hiring held up during tense fiscal cliff negotiations in Washington.
The solid job growth wasn’t enough to push down the unemployment rate, which stayed 7.8 percent last month, according to the Labor Department’s report Friday. November’s rate was revised higher from an initially reported 7.7 percent…
Robust hiring in manufacturing and construction fueled the December gains. Construction firms added 30,000 jobs, the most in 15 months. That likely reflects additional hiring needed to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy and also solid gains in home building that have contributed to a housing recovery… (more)