The United States unemployment rate fell in November to a five-year low of 7 percent, beating economists’ expectations.<br /><br />The jobless rate dropped by 0.3 percent on the previous month to its lowest level since November 2008.<br /><br />Nonfarm payrolls data released by the US Labor Department revealed an increase of 203,000 new jobs last month.<br /><br />The monthly drop in unemployment was also helped by the return to work of federal workers counted as jobless in October, during the 16-day partial shutdown of the US government.<br /><br />The stronger-than-expected reading data on job growth in November has led to speculation that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) might begin to scale back its economic stimulus program.<br /><br />Some economists, however, believe that the Fed will wait for further signs of progress before implementing a policy change.
