The nation added more than 220‑thousand jobs in November, marking the second consecutive month that growth reached the 200‑thousand range.

The Ministry of Data and Statistics' Economically Active Population Survey released Wednesday showed that employment reached 29‑point‑04 million last month, up 225‑thousand from a year earlier.

Job losses continued in key industries. The construction sector shed 131‑thousand positions, extending its decline for the 19th consecutive month. 

The manufacturing sector extended its decline for the 17th straight month, shedding 41‑thousand jobs in November.

The employment rate for the working‑age population, those aged 15 to 64, reached 70‑point‑two percent, up zero‑point‑three percentage points from a year earlier.

But youth employment remained weak. The rate for those aged 15 to 29 slipped one‑point‑two percentage points year-over‑year to 44‑point‑three percent, marking the 19th consecutive monthly decline.