November came with good news for the U.S. job market. For the second month in a row, the nation added jobs, rising by 199,000. This was generally in line with estimates by experts and the nation’s unemployment rate fell even further to 3.7%.
The numbers in November were bolstered by strong gains in industries such as health care and business and professional services. Meanwhile, manufacturing, which had been a strength in America, fell by 27,000 jobs, a sign of the ongoing impact of tariffs on the country’s economy.
November marks the 103rd consecutive month of job gains for the U.S., a streak dating back to the end of the Great Recession in 2009. During this period, the unemployment rate has fallen steadily, taking an especially steep drop in recent years.
The news in November bodes well for the American economy heading into 2019, as the job market remains strong even as other indicators, such as housing, have seen some hiccups. The increased hiring also puts more money in consumers’ pockets, giving them the confidence to continue spending and driving the economy.
The November report shows that the nation is continuing to move in the right direction, but the impact of that progress will take time to be fully realized. In the meantime, the report does confirm that the U.S. is still creating jobs, and that is good news.