Today, the Labor Department released its monthly employment survey and reported that the nation lost 11, 000 jobs in November -- which was about 115, 000 fewer than was forecast -- and is about close to zero, from the perspective of our overall economy. (Applause.) The unemployment rate ticked down, instead of up. (Applause.) The report also found that we lost about 160, 000 fewer jobs over the last two months than we had previously thought.
We're moving forward. (Applause.) Now, after losing about 800, 000 jobs a month when I took office, our businesses have now added 5.2 million new jobs over the past two and a half years. (Applause.) This morning, we found out that the unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since I took office. (Applause.) More Americans entered the workforce.
That includes, by the way, making sure that we meet our 2020 goal of once again having the highest rate of college graduation in the world. (Applause.) We used to be number one.