WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US employment growth slowed more than expected in December amid job losses in the construction, retail and manufacturing sectors, but a decline in the unemployment rate to 4.4 percent suggested the labor market was not rapidly deteriorating.
The Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday also showed solid wage growth last month, bolstering economists' expectations the Federal Reserve would leave interest rates unchanged at its Jan. 27-28 meeting.
Economists have blamed sluggish job growth on President Donald Trump's aggressive trade and immigration policies, which they say have reduced both demand for and supply of workers.
Businesses are also holding back on hiring, unsure of their staffing needs as they invest heavily in artificial intelligence.
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