(Washington, DC) -- The nation is adding more jobs than expected.
The latest jobs report says 223-thousand positions were created in December. Analysts were expecting 200-thousand. The unemployment rate now sits at three-and-a-half percent.
Federal officials said leisure and hospitality along with healthcare and construction led the job gains to close out the year. However, jobs were lost in professional and business services.
This comes as fewer jobs were added in October and November than originally reported. That's also according to the latest jobs report released by the federal government.
It says 21-thousand fewer jobs were added in October while job growth in November was revised down by seven-thousand. That means 263-thousand positions were created in October while the number of November now stands at 256-thousand.