In one of the first signs that the economy is improving and recovering from the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 7.0% in November and that total non-farm payroll employment rose by 203,000. Gains were made in a number of industries including transportation, warehousing, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Demographically, adult men saw the lowest reported unemployment numbers at 6.7%, followed closely by adult women at 6.2%, the teenager unemployment rate continues to be roughly around 20.8%, while African-Americans trail with an unemployment rate of 12.5%, and Hispanics at 8.7%. Asian-Americans [...]