According to a new report from the Labor Department, the economy added 146,000 jobs in November, with the unemployment rate falling to 7.7%. The number is higher than many economists had been predicting, as Hurricane Sandy was expected to have a larger effect. The report also revised job growth numbers for the past two months down slightly. Another measure of unemployment, which takes into account underemployed workers, also fell. Economists say that the report is on par with job growth this year and that the economy is showing a slow recovery. They also warned that the outcome of the fiscal cliff debate could have a large affect on growth in the future.
See "U.S. Adds 146,000 Jobs; Jobless Rate Falls to 7.7%", Nelson D. Schwartz, The New York Times, December 6, 2012