U.S. Jobless Rate Rises to 6% in November

The unemployment rate in the United States rose 0.3% to 6% in November, putting a damper back on the economic recovery.

The Labor Department, in its report on unemployment and non-farm payrolls, said that payrolls shrank by 40,000 – the largest decline since February.

Jobless data often has a large affect on the economy at large. Trucking is very sensitive to the economy and is often hurt by announcements of increased unemployment or job cuts.

The jobless rate was the highest its been since last April.

Bloomberg reported that the number was pushed higher by cuts made at manufacturers, retailers and construction companies.

Analysts said that the job market still lacks traction, and without steady job growth, the economy will continue to struggle through the recovery.

The report also said that the average workweek held fast at 34.2 hours in November and average hourly earnings rose 0.3%.

The unemployment rate is assembled based on a survey of 60,000 U.S. households, while the payroll figures are taken from a survey of 300,000 businesses.

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