Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 157,000 in December, with gains occurring in several service-providing industries. A total of 2.2 million jobs were added to payrolls in 2004. The unemployment rate was unchanged in December at 5.4 percent but was down from 5.7 percent a year earlier.

Among the major industry sectors, the largest job gain in December was in education and health services (47,000), principally in health care and social assistance. Overall, education and health services added 402,000 jobs in 2004.