US unemployment rate falls to 9-year low

The nation’s November unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent, the lowest level since 2007.

Last month’s figure is down from 4.9 percent in October, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release.

During November, U.S. employers added 178,000 jobs, led by professional and business services, health care and construction.

Professional and business services employers added 63,000 jobs last month. Within the industry, administrative and support services posted an 18,000-job increase, according to the release.

In the health care sector, employment rose by 28,000 jobs. The industry added 407,000 jobs during the past 12 months.

Construction employment increased by 19,000 in November, largely due to a 15,000-job gain in residential specialty trade contractors, according to the release.

Other major industries, including mining, manufacturing and wholesale trade, changed little in November.

Last month, the number of unemployed people dropped by 387,000 to 7.4 million, the BLS reports.