December 2011 Data Released January 2012

In the U.S. economy:

• The U.S. economy increased by 1,671,000 nonagricultural jobs in December 2011 over December 2010, a 1.28 percent increase.
• The goods producing sector increased by 358,000 jobs, a 2.02 percent increase in December 2011 compared to December 2010.
• The service providing sector increased by 1,313,000 jobs in December 2011 over December 2010, a 1.16 percent increase.

Among the states:

• North Dakota recorded the largest increase in total nonagricultural jobs in December 2011 over December 2010, with a 5.70 percent increase representing 22,000 jobs.
• The largest rate of total nonagricultural jobs lost for December 2011, compared to December 2010, was in Delaware, with a 0.70 percent decrease (-2,900 jobs).
• California recorded a job increase (23,300 jobs) in the information sector, which equaled 5.27 percent growth in December 2011 compared to December 2010.
• Oklahoma recorded 8.43 percent job growth in the manufacturing sector in December 2011 compared to December 2010, which represents 10,700 jobs.
• Utah recorded 7.03 percent job growth in the professional and business services sector in December 2011 compared to December 2010, which represents 11,000 jobs.

Among the metro areas:

• In metropolitan markets with under 1,000,000 workers, the Columbus, IN metropolitan area ranked first in nonagricultural job growth for December 2011 over December 2010, posting a 6.35 percent gain, which represented 2,700 jobs.
• Among metropolitan markets with a workforce of over 1,000,000, the Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan area ranked first in nonagricultural job growth for December 2011 over December 2010, posting a 2.95 percent gain, which represented 75,800 jobs.