Payrolls rose more than anticipated in November and the joblessrate fell to an almost four-year low, indicating superstorm Sandyhad little effect on the U.S. labor market.

Employment climbed by 146,000 following a revised 138,000 gainin October that was less than initially estimated, Labor Departmentfigures showed today in Washington. The median estimate of 91economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a gain of 85,000. Sandy“did not substantively impact” the data, the agency said. Theunemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent, the lowest since December2008, as size of the labor force shrank.

Gains in hiring indicate consumer spending, the biggest part ofthe economy, will keep expanding. At the same time, concern aboutmore than $600 billion in fiscal tightening slated for early nextyear threatens growth and may set back employment, one reasonFederal Reserve policy makers are weighing increasing stimulus.