The U.S. economy added a disappointing 148,000 jobs in December while the unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent, according to a closely watched Labor Department report Friday. Economists surveyed by Reuters had been expecting nonfarm payrolls to grow by 190,000. The total was well below the November pace of 252,000, which was revised up from the initially reported 228,000. An unexpected loss of 20,000 retail positions during the holiday season held back the headline number. The unemployment rate for blacks fell to 6.8 percent, its lowest ever. "A little bit of a disappointment when you only get 2,000 jobs out of the government and get retail at the absolute busiest time of the year losing 20,000 jobs. It just goes to show the true struggle that traditional brick and mortar is having now," said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade. "Outside of that I actually thought it was a good report."

Biggest gains came from health care (31,000), construction (30,000) and manufacturing (25,000). Bars and restaurants added 25,000, while professional and business services grew by 19,000. Average hourly earnings rose modestly to the same 2.5 percent annualized gain as in November. Federal Reserve policymakers were watching the jobs data closely, both for payroll gains and for wage growth. Though central bank economists estimate the jobs market is near full employment, wage pressures have remained muted. "I don't think it's that big of a deal," Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors, said of the lower-than-expected number. "I certainly don't think this has any impact in terms of what the Fed will do in the future. The economy continues to be on solid footing." Indeed, markets mostly shrugged off the jobs number. Stocks rose modestly in morning trade while government bond yields edged lower.

Employees build components for hybrid electric vehicle motors at the Toshiba International manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas. Matthew Busch | Bloomberg | Getty Images