The United States added 50,000 nonfarm jobs in December, fewer than was projected, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' jobs report published Friday.

Private-sector employment rose by 41,000 jobs in December, though the rise was lower than the expected 48,000, ADP reported Wednesday.

Nonfarm payrolls likely rose by 73,000 last month while the unemployment rate edged lower to 4.5%, according to the Dow Jones consensus.