The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Non-Farm Payrolls report for December exceeded Wall Street's expectations by 5,000 net new jobs, showing 155,000 positions created in December. The December tally raised the economy's 12-month total to 1.84 million net new jobs created nationwide. Jobs added in December mark the 27th consecutive month of job growth. Job sectors showing the strongest growth to close out 2012 included:
- Health Care
- Drinking and Eating Establishments
- Construction
- Manufacturing