Unemployment falls to 9.4 percent, black teen joblessness still highest
Associated Press (via The Grio) | January 7, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent last month, its lowest level in 19 months. That was because more Americans found jobs, but also because some people gave up on their job searches.

The Labor Department says employers added 103,000 jobs in December, an improvement from November but far below most analysts’ expectations.

Private employers added a net total of 113,000 jobs last month. Government shed 10,000.

The previous month’s African-American unemployment rose to 16 percent and has now dipped slightly to 15.8 percent, while black teen unemployment declined to 44.2 percent, but remains the highest of any group.

More people were hired in previous months than the government first estimated. The government’s revisions showed the economy added 210,000 jobs in October, above the previous figure of 172,000. November’s total was revised to 71,000, up from 39,000.  (Read more)