Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by only 245,000 jobs in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the unemployment rate decreased slightly to 6.7 percent.

“The pace of improvement in the labor market has moderated in recent months,” notes the BLS, and employment is 9.8 million jobs, or 6.5 percent, below its level in February, prior to the novel coronavirus outbreak. Job gains in September were revised upward to 711,000, and job growth in October was revised downward to 610,000.

By job category, the greatest gains were in transportation and warehousing, up 145,000 jobs; professional and business services, up 60,000 jobs; and healthcare, up 46,000 jobs. In addition, construction and manufacturing each added 27,000 jobs, while leisure and hospitality added 31,000 jobs. The biggest declines were seen in government jobs, down 99,000 jobs, reflecting the loss of temporary Census workers, and retail trade, down