US job growth increased at a strong clip in November, better than expected, with payrolls rising by 228,000 jobs.
Service, health care and manufacturing firms helped to drive the gains, holding the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 per cent.
Economists had expected an increase of about 200,000 jobs, but early festive season hiring and a rebound after two hurricanes earlier this year helped to boost growth, reports BBC.
Wages increased by 2.5 per cent year-on-year.
The US Labour Department report follows other recent data suggesting that the US economy is in solid shape.
US economic growth has hit an annualised rate of more than 3.0 per cent in the past two quarters, while the unemployment rate is at its lowest since 2000.
Manufacturing firms added 31,000 jobs, while health care payrolls increased by 30,000, the report said.
Even the retail sector, which has struggled this year, saw a gain, adding 18,700 jobs, amid expectations of robust end-of-year shopping.