Employment continued to increase in the United States in December, ending 2023 with what was estimated as a gain of 2.7 million jobs for the year.

Nonfarm payrolls grew 216,000 in December and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Initial estimates for payroll gains the previous two months were revised downward a total of 71,000 to 173,000 for November and 105,000 for October.

With the latest numbers, payrolls increased 2.7 million in 2023, an average monthly gain of 225,000.

For December, 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 4.2 million people were counted among those working part-time because their hours were cut or they were unable to fund full-time positions.

The labor participation rate — the proportion of the population either working or seeing work — edged down three-tenths of a point to 62.5 percent.

Payroll gains in December were spread out among industry sectors. Employment increased 40,000 in leisure and hospitality,  38,000 in health care, 21,000 in social assistance and 17,000 each in construction and retail trades. Government payrolls grew 52,000. Employment declined 23,000 in transportation and warehousing.

The average workweek for employees on nonfarm payrolls shortened a tenth of an hour to 34.3 hours. The manufacturing workweek shortened two-tenths of an hour to 39.8 hours.

Average hourly earnings for employees on nonfarm payrolls rose 15 cents to $34.27. Wages increased 4.1 percent over the past year.