December unemployment held at 10 percent

Economists predicted the joblessrate would go half way back to its October high of 10.2 percent. It held even, instead, despite the loss of 85,000 non-farm jobs in the month, the department said.

The Labor Department said the total number of unemployed has risen to 15.3 million, up 7.6 million from December 2007, when 7.7 million were listed as unemployed and the unemployment rate stood at 5 percent.

The number of jobs lost in the month is nearly eight times the job losses a month ago, when 11,000 jobs disappeared. The two-month total, however, is still less than many single months of the past two years.

Construction employment dropped by 53,000 in the month after losing 27,000 positions in November. Manufacturing lost 41,000 two months ago and 27,000 jobs last month.

The average workweek, up from 33 hours in October, held still November to December at 33.2 hours. Hourly earnings in December increased 0.2 percent or three cents to $18.80 per hour.

Copyright 2010 by United Press International.