By Jim Puzzanghera

Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates.

U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from October’s strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last year’s average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth.

The unemployment remained at 3.7 percent, the lowest since 1969. Wages grew at a robust 3.1 percent in the 12 months ended Nov. 30, matching the year-over-year pace from the previous month.

Michael Gapen, chief U.S. economist at Barclays Investment Bank, said the report showed that the labor market remained healthy.