The number of unemployed in the US edged down to 10% in November.

Unemployment in the US has fallen to 10%, with employers cutting the smallest number of jobs for the month of November since the US recession began in December 2007.

Statistics released by the US Department of Labor have recorded a fall in employment across the construction, manufacturing and information sectors, whilst the number of people gaining employment in temporary help services and health care rose.

The number of unemployed now stands at 15.4 million, more than double the figure recorded at the start of the recession, which stood at 7.5 million.

In his weekly address, US President Barack Obama, said that although the figures showed a positive upward trend the country should not rest on its laurels: “For those who were laid off last month and the millions of American’s who have lost their jobs in the recession, a good trend isn’t good enough.”

However, he did say that the US is showing signs of recovery: “Because of the Recovery Act and a number of other steps we’ve taken, we’re no longer facing the potential collapse of our financial system or a second Great Depression. Our economy’s growing for the first time in a year.”

President Obama added:  “I will focus every single day on how we can get people back to work, and how we can build an economy that continues to make real the promise of America for generations to come.”