Unemployment rate remains at 10% Dec 2009

With the release of today's numbers the recovery in the jobs market continues to be muted.

• Nonfarm payrolls fell by a seasonally adjusted 85,000 in December.
• Number of discouraged workers rose by 287,000 over the year to 929,000.
• Total hours worked in the economy were unchanged in December. The average workweek was unchanged at 33.2 hours, near the record low.
• An alternative gauge of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers and those forced to work part-time, rose to 17.3% from 17.2%.