U.S. jobless rate falls to 5.6 pct in December

U.S. economy continued to add a considerable number of new jobs in December and the jobless rate fell to 5.6 percent, adding fresh evidence that the world's largest economy is well on track of recovery.

The nonfarm payroll employment added 252,000 new jobs in December, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 5.6 percent, the Labor Department said on Friday.

After revision, employment gains were 50,000 more than previously reported in October and November.

The labor force participation rate edged down by 0.2 percentage point to 62.7 percent. The number of long-term unemployed, or those jobless for 27 weeks or more, was little changed at 2.8 million, accounting for nearly a third of the total unemployed. Endi