Nov. 2016: U.S. Economy Adds 178,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Drops To 4.6 Percent

The unemployment rate declined to 4.6 percent in November, and total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 178,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Employment gains occurred in professional and business services and in health care.

The drop in the unemployment rate was driven partly by the creation of new jobs, Washington Post reports, and partly by people retiring.

Over the year, average hourly earnings were up 2.5 percent.