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Business & Tech

National Unemployment Rate Lowest in Three Years

Jobless rate falls from 8.5 percent in December to 8.3 percent in January.

Good news for job seekers as figures released Friday showed the national unemployment rate falling from 8.5 percent in December to 8.3 percent last month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The U.S. added 243,000 new jobs in January, the highest job gains in nine months, according to a report by staffing firm Robert Half International.

The last time the unemployment rate fell for five straight months was in 1994, the report says.

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The Associated Press (which has an in-depth look at the numbers) says that the professional services industry added 70,000 jobs in January, while manufacturing added 50,000.

Daryl Pigat, Metro Market Manager for RHI Brooklyn said, “Today’s jobs report was a pleasant surprise and a lot brighter than economists were predicting. Local employers are more optimistic in a sustained economic recovery, so they are feeling more comfortable about adding to their teams.”

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