The Labor Department said U.S. employment rose by 203,000 in November and the unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 7.0%. Employment increased in transportation and warehousing, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Employment in transportation and warehousing rose by 31,000 in November, with gains in couriers and messengers (+9,000), truck transportation (+8,000), warehousing and storage (+5,000)and air transportation (+3,000).

Healthcare employment continued to increase over the month (+28,000). Job gains occurred in home healthcare services (+12,000) and offices of physicians (+7,000), while nursing care facilities lost jobs (-4,000). Job growth in healthcare has averaged 19,000 per month thus far this year, compared with an average monthly gain of 27,000 in 2012.

In November, manufacturing added 27,000 jobs. Within the industry, job gains occurred in food manufacturing (+8,000) and in motor vehicles and parts (+7,000).

Employment in construction continued to trend up in November (+17,000). Monthly job gains in the industry averaged 15,000 over the prior 12 months.

To read the full Labor Department report click here.