REPEAT:MNI DATA ANALYSIS:US November Payrolls +155k,3.7% Rate>

Repeats Story Initially Transmitted at 13:30 GMT Dec 7

--Unemployment Rate Unch With Higher Employed, Lower Unemployed 

--Hourly Earnings +0.2% After +0.1% in October, Y/Y Rate Unch At 3.1% 

By Kevin Kastner, Shikha Dave, and Harrison Clarke

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - The November employment report was softer than 

expected, with nonfarm payrolls up 155,000 compared with the 190,000 

increase expected by analysts and the 215,000 gain expected by the 

whisper number, and a net 12,000 downward revision in the previous two 

months, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday showed. 

     Additionally, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7% in 

November with gains in household employed and declines in household 

unemployed, while hourly earnings were up only 0.2%, lower than the 0.3% 

gain expected keeping the year/year rate unchanged at 3.1%.    

--UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNCHANGED

     Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to stay at 3.7% in 

November. When seen unrounded, the November rate fell to 3.671% from 

3.735% in October, so on the low side of 3.7%. The labor force 

participation rate was unchanged from 62.9%. 

     The labor force grew by 133,000 after a 711,000 surge last month. 

Household employment rose by 233,000 in November following a 600,000 

jump in October, while the number of unemployed fell by 100,000 after 

rising by 111,000 in October.

--HOURLY EARNINGS RISE

     Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% in November after an downward 

revised 0.1% gain in October. Before rounding, November hourly earnings 

were up 0.220%, on the high side of 0.2%. 

     Hourly earnings now stand 3.1% above its year ago level, unchanged 

from 3.1% in October. 

     Even at it's current year/year rate, wage growth is still lagging 

behind levels usually seen with this tight of a labor market. 

     The overall average workweek fell to 34.4 hours from 34.5 hours in 

the previous month. The combination of payroll, earnings and hours 

worked should be smaller positive factors for personal income growth in 

November. 

     Private jobs were up 161,000, lower than the 190,000 gain expected. 

Within payrolls, there were solid gains for transportation and 

warehousing, and manufacturing, with a smaller gain for construction, 

and a decline in information. Retail trade payrolls rose by 18,000 after 

two consecutive months of decline. 

     ** MNI Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **