(Special from NorthStar News Today) — The nation’s nonfarm payroll employment added 292,000 jobs in December, resulting in a dramatic drop in unemployment for black men and Black women.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that joblessness for African Americans was 8.3%, down from 9.4% in November. For black men 20 years old and older, the unemployment rate was 8.7% in December, down from 9.9% in November.

The jobless rate for black women 20 years old and older also showed dramatic improvement to 6.9% in December, down from 7.9% in November.

Despite the good news the Black jobless rate still remains higher than other ethnic and racial groups, according to BLS.

The Asian unemployment rate was 4.0% in December, up from 3.9% in November.

The jobless rate for Hispanics was 6.3% in December, down from 6.4% in November. The unemployment rate for whites was 4.5% in December compared to 4.4% in November.

The national unemployment rate remained at 5% and the number of unemployed persons was 7.9 million, which was essentially unchanged in December.

BLS reported job gains in professional and business services, construction, health care, food services and bars.

This article originally published in the January 18, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.