The USA added 266,000 nonfarm jobs in November - well above the 187,000 predicted by economists - boosted by the end of the GM strike.
Unemployment returned to 3.5%, the lowest since 1969.
Other sectors showed strong gains also: leisure and hospitality and health care each gained 45,000 jobs, professional and business services 31,000.
Average hourly wage rose by 3.1% to $28.29.
Citizens Bank Global Markets Head Tony Bedikian characterized the 226,000 job gain as "a blowout number."
The Federal Reserve has indicated that unless something unexpected happens, there will be no further interest rate cuts anytime soon.
