200,000 jobs created in December, the best report in six months

The median length of unemployment, which is the amount of time that the greatest number of people remain jobless, has fallen in a year, from 22.3 weeks in December 2010 to 21 weeks last month. That means that jobs have become easier to land.

But the average length of unemployment has risen considerably and barely moved, skewed by people who have been unable to find jobs for years, despite continuing effort. In December 2010, the average length of unemployment was 34.9 weeks. A year later, it was 40.8 weeks.

Among the long-term unemployed is Toni Myers, an administrative assistant from Devon, who was laid off in April 2008. "After 1,065 resumes and 43 interviews," she wrote, "I can't even get a seasonal retail position for the holidays."

She still hasn't landed a job - and her story illustrates the pattern that, the longer people are out of work, the more difficult it is for them to get a job, particularly if they are older.

Incorporating those working part time for economic reasons and those too discouraged to actively seek work, the unemployment/underemployment rate is 15.2 percent, down from 16.6 percent a year ago, but up from 8.8 percent at the recession's start.

Still, the job market is improving, albeit slowly. The economy added 1.6 million jobs in 2011, up from 940,000 the prior year. In 2010, the unemployment rate averaged 9.6. In 2011, the average was 8.9 percent. November's unemployment rate was revised upward to 8.7 percent from 8.6 percent.

In December, private-sector hiring rose 212,000, but was offset by the continuing slide in government employment - down 14,000 on a local level, including public education. In December, for example, the School District of Philadelphia laid off 47 nurses, part of a 141-employee cut.

Jobs were added in manufacturing, retailing, warehousing, publishing, telecommunications, accounting, engineering, management, health, restaurants - even at zoos and museums, the jobs report said.

Construction, a longtime loser, also added jobs.

Economists cited by the Associated Press forecast that the job gains would top 2.1 million this year.

Woodrow said CarePartners would be among those contributing to the growth. Its software product, housed in a kiosk also developed by the company, is designed to help patients understand their doctors' instructions, while also documenting the quality of care they receive.

CarePartners is riding the wave of patient-centered health-information technology, and Woodrow expects a nationwide rollout, with 75 people being hired in the next year, up to 15 by March.

Joel Capparella, vice president of client solutions at Yoh Services L.L.C., a Philadelphia-based temporary-staffing company specializing in information technology, judges the strength of the economy by wages his temporary professionals can command in the market.

"We've seen an increase in tech wages," he said.

Also, he's heartened by some small investments in companies such as CarePartners and other start-ups. "That trickles down," he said. "Maybe they'll start hiring."

Von Bergen at 215-854-2769, jvonbergen@phillynews.com,

or @JaneVonBergen on Twitter.