December Jobs Report , Shows Payrolls Rose by 223,000.<br />Yahoo Finance reports that the U.S. Labor Department posted its latest jobs report on Jan. 6.<br />Despite interest rates being at <br />their highest level in 15 years, .<br />the American labor market <br />stayed strong last month.<br />Nonfarm payrolls were only expected to rise by 202,000 in December, but they increased by 223,000.<br />The unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%.<br />Average hourly earnings only rose at <br />a pace of 0.3% month-over-month.<br />Year-over-year, they rose 4.6%.<br />The largest payroll gains occurred in <br />leisure and hospitality, social assistance, construction and health care sectors.<br />The largest payroll gains occurred in <br />leisure and hospitality, social assistance, construction and health care sectors.<br />The largest payroll gains occurred in <br />leisure and hospitality, social assistance, construction and health care sectors.<br />The largest payroll gains occurred in <br />leisure and hospitality, social assistance, construction and health care sectors.<br />Leisure and hospitality added 67,000 jobs, social assistance added 20,000.<br />Leisure and hospitality added 67,000 jobs, social assistance added 20,000.<br />construction offered 28,000 more jobs, and health care had 55,000 more positions.<br />construction offered 28,000 more jobs, and health care had 55,000 more positions
