The Labor Department released a closely watched report on Friday showing employment in the U.S. increased by less than expected in the month of December.
The report said non-farm payroll employment rose by 50,000 jobs in December after climbing by a downwardly revised 56,000 jobs in November.
The Labor Department also said the loss of jobs in October was revised to 173,000 from the previously reported 105,000.
The modest job growth in December came as employment continued to trend higher in the food services and drinking places, health care, and social assistance sectors, although the retail sector lost jobs.
Meanwhile, the Labor Department said the unemployment rate edged down to 4.4 percent in December from a revised 4.5 percent in November.
The dip by the unemployment rate came as the household survey measure of employment jumped by 232,000 persons, while the labor force shrank by 46,000 persons.
The report also said average hourly employee earnings climbed by $0.12 or 0.3 percent to $37.02 in December.
Average hourly employee earnings in December were up by 3.8 percent compared to the same month a year ago, reflecting an acceleration from 3.6 percent in November.