Monthly jobs report shows increase in jobs, drop in jobless rate (MarketWatch) (03-02-2012)

WASHINGTON – According the Labor Department report, the U.S. economy gained 243,000 jobs in January and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%, besting economists’ forecasts

The private sector boosted payrolls by 257,000, led by large increases in manufacturing, professional services, leisure and hospitality and health care.

Average hourly earnings rose 0.2% to $23.29 and hours worked were unchanged at 34.5. Job gains for December and November were revised up by a combined 60,000. The U.S. created 1.82 million jobs in 2011, based on newly revised tax and other data, compared to an originally reported increase of 1.64 million.

Source: MarketWatch