The U.S. economy created 243,000 jobs in January, the highest total for nine months, the Labor Department reported Friday. That figure helped to reduce the unemployment rate from 8.5 to 8.3 percent – the lowest rate since February 2009.
The Labor Department said January job growth was widespread, with large gains in leisure and hospitality (+44,000 jobs), professional and business services (+70,000) and manufacturing (+50,000).
“January’s employment numbers exceeded all forecasts and provide the strongest evidence yet that our economic recovery is on track,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in a press release.
“We’re also seeing new growth in construction. This sector has added 52,000 jobs over the last two months, the largest increase in construction jobs since 2007,” she added.
Friday’s Labor Department figures don’t take account of those who are no longer looking for work, though Solis said the drop in unemployment has been driven by employment gains, not workers leaving the labor force.
