There were more new jobs than expected. Economists’ expectation was 200,003 new jobs, according to Bloomberg’s compilation. However, it was a smaller increase than in November, when employment rose by 263,000 new jobs.
Unemployment fell more than expected – from 3.7 percent in November to 3.5 percent in December. The economists expected an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent.
The market slightly up
The wage growth rate increased less than expected and was 4.6 percent in December at an annual rate. The economists’ forecast was that the wage growth rate would slow to 5.0 percent from 5.1 percent in November.
During Friday, the market waited anxiously for the US job figures and futures trading on the stock exchange in the US moved sideways before the announcement. After the announcement, futures trading turned slightly upwards.
235,000 new jobs in the private sector
Already on Thursday, the payroll company ADP released figures for employment in the private sector in the United States. According to their statistics, 235,000 new jobs were added in December. The US stock markets reacted negatively to the figure, which was significantly higher than economists’ expectations of 150,000 new jobs.
Javascript must be enabled to play video
