The American economy added 252,000 nonfarm jobs in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment report released today.

The number of jobs added in December is roughly 100,000 jobs less than the growth in November, which was revised up in today's report to 353,000 jobs added. (The BLS frequently revises initially reported numbers in subsequent reports.) The BLS job growth figure is similar to the 241,000 jobs added that payroll company ADP and Moody's Analytics reported on Wednesday.

The construction industry added 48,000 jobs in December, which was more than double the industry's growth in November and the second-strongest month in 2014. Manufacturing growth slowed, adding 17,000 jobs in December, and architectural and engineering services added 5,100 jobs, slightly more than in November.

All of the construction industry sectors experienced positive growth. Residential construction added 13,500 jobs, and nonresidential construction added 22,800 jobs. Construction of buildings added 10,800 jobs, heavy and civil engineering construction added 11,600 jobs, and specialty trade contractors added 25,500 jobs.

Construction of Buildings Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction Specialty Trade Contractors

Charts: Maggie Goldstone; Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics