WASHINGTON - The US economy added 146,000 jobs in November and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, the lowest level since December 2008, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The nonfarm payrolls climbed more than anticipated and the jobless rate was lower than market expectation, a hopeful sign for the labor market.

The private sector payrolls rose by 147,000 while governments of all levels slashed 1,000 posts in the month.

Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall on the Northeast coast in late October, did not substantially impact the national employment and unemployment estimates for November, the Labor Department said.