A historic look at job creation in the US over the past 10 years

National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow on the December jobs report and the outlook for the U.S. economy.

Despite a year of market volatility exacerbated by concerns of a softening economy and decelerating global growth, U.S. employers added 2.63 million jobs in 2018 – the highest number since 2015.

On Friday, the Department of Labor released its final payroll data report for 2018, revealing that the U.S. economy had added 312,000 jobs in December, blowing past Wall Street’s expectations of 177,000 jobs and pushing the yearly total even higher. It was the biggest gain since February, which saw 324,000 positions added.

Here’s a look at how many jobs the U.S. economy added -- and lost -- over the past decade.

2018: Added 2.63 million

2017: Added 2.18 million

2016: Added 2.34 million

2015: Added 2.71 million

2014: Added 3 million

2013: Added 2.3 million

2012: Added 2.15 million

2011: Added 2.09 million

2010: Added 1.05 million

2009: Lost 5.06 million