The U.S. unemployment rate edged down to 8.5 percent in December, reported the Labor Department on Friday.

The unemployment rate was the lowest since February 2009 when the unemployment level stood at 8.2 percent, adding to a string of positive economic data in recent months.

Nonfarm employers added 200,000 jobs in December, with private employers adding 212,000 jobs and governments at all levels cutting 12,000 jobs, Labor Department figures revealed.

Against the backdrop of slashing government outlays, U.S. governments cut 280,000 jobs in 2011, said the department.

Unemployment has dropped by 0.6 percentage point since August 2011 and the total number of unemployed Americans decreased to 13.1 million in December.

Retail trade continued to add jobs in December with a gain of 28,000, as the sector benefited from the solid retail sales gain in the holiday shopping season.

In December, manufacturing employment expanded by 23,000, following four months of little change.

The health care sector continued to add 23,000 jobs in December, while construction employment changed little last month.

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours in December.

In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 23.24 dollars. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent, noted the report.

The U.S. unemployment rate edged down to 8.5 percent in December, reported the Labor Department on Friday.

The unemployment rate was the lowest since February 2009 when the unemployment level stood at 8.2 percent, adding to a string of positive economic data in recent months.

Nonfarm employers added 200,000 jobs in December, with private employers adding 212,000 jobs and governments at all levels cutting 12,000 jobs, Labor Department figures revealed.

Against the backdrop of slashing government outlays, U.S. governments cut 280,000 jobs in 2011, said the department.

Unemployment has dropped by 0.6 percentage point since August 2011 and the total number of unemployed Americans decreased to 13.1 million in December.

Retail trade continued to add jobs in December with a gain of 28,000, as the sector benefited from the solid retail sales gain in the holiday shopping season.

In December, manufacturing employment expanded by 23,000, following four months of little change.

The health care sector continued to add 23,000 jobs in December, while construction employment changed little last month.

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours in December.

In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 4 cents, or 0.2 percent, to 23.24 dollars. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 2.1 percent, noted the report.