Unemployment Falls to 8.6 Percent; Economy Adds 120,000 Jobs
December 2, 2011
Unemployment dropped to 8.6 percent in November, its lowest level in nearly three years.
The steep drop — the jobless rate was 9 percent a month ago — is good news for Democrats and President Obama, who is counting on a recovering economy to help him win a second term.
The nation's economy added 120,000 jobs in November, with the private sector adding 140,000. In another sign of a recovering market, September numbers were revised upward to 210,000 from 158,000, while October figures were revised from 80,000 to 100,000 gained.