Unemployment rate falls to 9.4 percent, hiring up

Unemployment rate falls to 9.4 percent, hiring up

CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON — The nation's unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent last month, its lowest level in 19 months. That was because more people found jobs, but also because some people gave up on their job searches.

The Labor Department says employers added 103,000 jobs in December, an improvement from November but far below most analysts' expectations.

Private employers added a net total of 113,000 jobs last month. Government shed 10,000.

More people were hired in previous months than the government...