Payrolls grew and the unemployment rate edged down in the United in November.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 199,000 and the jobless rate decreased two-tenths of a point to 3.7 percent, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The initial estimate for job gains in September was revised downward 35,000 to 262,000. The estimate for October remained unchanged at 150,000.

With the latest numbers, payrolls have increased an average of 240,000 a month over the past year.

For November, 6.3 million people were counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work. Of those, 1.2 million had been out of work 27 weeks or longer.

Another 4 million people were counted among those working part-time because their hours were cut or they were unable to find full-time positions.

The labor participation rate — the proportion of the population either working or looking for work — edged up a tenth of a point to 62.8 percent. The rate has changed little since August.

Payroll gains for November were spread out among industry sectors.

Employment increased 77,000 in health care and 40,000 in leisure and hospitality. Manufacturing payrolls increased 28,000, reflecting in part the return of motor vehicle and parts workers from a strike. Government payrolls increased 49,000.

Employment decreased 38,000 in retail trades with losses in department stores as well as furnishing and appliance stores.

The average workweek for employees on nonfarm payrolls edged up a tenth of an hour to 34.4 hours. The manufacturing work week held steady at 40 hours.

Average hourly earnings for employees on nonfarm payrolls rose 12 cents to $34.10. Over the past year, average hourly earnings increased 4 percent.