Ouch.

The economy gained a meager 74,000 jobs last month, the weakest result since early 2011, according to government data released Friday morning.

Also not good: The participation rate in the labor force declined one-fifth of a percentage point to 62.8% in December, matching October’s level, which was the lowest since 1978.

The participation rate is a broad gauge of the labor-market health, showing the workforce’s share of the civilian noninstitutional population. Falling rates means that people are increasingly less likely be in the labor force — not a great sign of economic strength or confidence.

— Text and charts by Ruth Mantell

Next: Unemployment rate drops

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 6.7% in December — the lowest level since October 2008 — from 7.0% in November. But part of that drop is due to people leaving the work force.

Next: See job gains by industry

Here’s another sign of weakness: December’s payroll report showed lackluster job gains across a variety of industries.

Education and health services, which typically can be depended on to deliver jobs growth, showed no change last month. Meanwhile, leisure and hospitality only rose by 9,000 jobs.

Next: ADP shows strong gain for private-sector construction jobs

One particularly weak industry last month was construction, with industry employment dropping 16,000 jobs, the first decrease in seven months, according to the U.S. Labor Department. This result was no surprise to economists, who had expected the unseasonably poor weather to hit these jobs.

But this news followed a major surprise earlier in the week from Automatic Data Processing, a payroll-services provider, which reported a large gain for construction employment last month. ADP said the monthly increase in private-sector construction jobs more than doubled to 48,000 in December — the largest employment gain since 2006 — from 21,000 in November.

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, which prepares the report using ADP’s data, said weather conditions in December weren’t stormy enough to hit jobs. Indeed, separate data show that construction on new U.S. homes recently reached the fastest pace since early 2008.

The question remains: Is ADP or the Labor Department correct about construction employment in December?

Next: Jobs growth for services, manufacturing picks up at end of 2013

Also contrasting with the government’s report, a gauge of non-manufacturing firms showed earlier this week that employment growth picked up in December, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

ISM’s non-manufacturing-jobs gauge, which covers services employers, rose to 55.8% in December from 52.5% in November. Readings above 50% signal growth — the higher the reading, the faster the growth. ISM also recently reported a slight pick up for manufacturing-jobs growth, with that gauge rising to 56.9% in December from 56.5% in November.

Next: Workers on the hunt for more money this year

Although Friday’s data may put a damper on their enthusiasm, workers have been perking up about their career opportunities, with quitting at a five-year high. What do they want? More money, according to survey data released this week by Korn Ferry, a Los Angeles-based executive search firm.

Among respondents who are looking for a new job this year, the largest share — 48% — cited “more money” as their primary motivation. Next, at 27%, came career advancement, followed by boredom/distaste for a current job at 9%.

Although these results may worry some employers, here’s one nugget to bring some cheer: only 1% of respondents cited dislike for their boss as the primary motivation behind their job hunt.

Next: Kids have the highest poverty rate among age groups

Half a century after President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a war on poverty, recent data show that kids have the highest poverty rate, with almost 22% of those under 18 living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The poverty rate among kids is more than double the 9% of people at least 65 who are living in poverty. Meanwhile, about 14% of adults between 18 and 64 are in poverty.

During the State of the Union address in 1964, Johnson said: “Unfortunately, many Americans live on the outskirts of hope — some because of their poverty, and some because of their color, and all too many because of both. Our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity.”

50 years later, the country still has many in need.