The numbers:The economy created 214, 05 jobs in the final month of to cap off the ninth straight year in which employment gains topped the 2 million mark, but workers still aren’t reaping a windfall from the strong labor market in the form of rapidly rising pay.
The increase in new jobs fell short of the (******************************************, forecast of economists polled by MarketWatch. Wall Street was expecting a drop-off, however, after a surprisingly robust 728, 06 gain in the prior month.
The unemployment rate, meanwhile, stayed at a 50 – year low of 3.5%.
What’s more, a broader measure of joblessness known as the U6 rate fell to 6.7% to mark the lowest level on record.
The sturdiest labor market in decades has shielded the economy from a broad slowdown in global growth triggered in part by the U.S. trade war with China. Skilled workers are so hard to find companies are afraid to lay anyone off in case the economy speeds up.
In an odd development, though, companies have managed to avert spiraling labor costs despite a talent shortage. The year pace of hourly wage growth slowed in December to the weakest pace in a year and a half.
Before the December employment report, premarket trading pointed to a higher opening for the stock market.
The smaller goods-producing part of the economy has mostly treaded water. Manufacturers lost (***********************************************************, 06 jobs in December, putting the increase for the entire year at a meager (**************************************, 000.
Energy producers also reduced employment as the cope with lower oil prices.
(The economy created 2.) million jobs for the full year, down from 2.7 million in (**************************************. Much of the decline revers a slower U.S. economy and a slump in manufacturing, but the ultratight labor market has also made it harder for companies to fill open jobs.
Yet even with skilled workers in such short supply, wage growth has leveled off. Average hourly pay rose just 3 cents in December to $ (************************************************.
The increase over the past year slipped to 2.9% from 3.1%, marking the first time it’s dropped below 3% since the summer of (***********************************.
Wages rose steadily for three years before peaking early last year. That suggests companies are resorting to other methods to attract or retain workers in lieu of better pay.
Employment gains for November and October, meanwhile, were reduced by a combined (************************************************,******** Read:Fed still worried US inflation will remain too low
Big picture:The picture that emerges of the US labor market at the end of 2019 is still a bright one. While hiring has slowed, the pace of layoffs and unemployment sit at or near 90 – year lows. Almost anyone who wants a job can find one.
The strong labor market has given consumers, the main engine of U.S. economic growth, the confidence to keep spending, extending a record expansion in its 28 th year.
Most economists see little risk of recession in after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates and trade tensions between the US and China eased.
(Market reaction:The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, 0. (%) **************** and S&P
SPX) ( 0.) ****************************************************** (%) were set to open at or near records.
The – year Treasury yield TMUBMUSDY,– 0. (%) **************** was little-changed at 1. 98%.
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