US: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 228,000 in November

"Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 228,000 in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent," the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.

Key highlights

The unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent in November, and the number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 6.6 million.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was essentially unchanged at 1.6 million in November and accounted for 23.8 percent of the unemployed.

The labor force participation rate remained at 62.7 percent in November and has shown no clear trend over the past 12 months. 

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers), at 4.8 million, was essentially unchanged in November but was down by 858,000 over the year.

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 34.5 hours in November.

In November, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose  by 5 cents to $26.55. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 64 cents, or  2.5 percent.