The healthcare industry continued to grow, adding 45,000 jobs to the nation's economy in December, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Jan. 4.

The total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 155,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.8 percent, according to the report. In addition, the number of unemployed individuals in December remained around the same as the previous month at 12.2 million.

The largest job growth within the healthcare industry was in ambulatory healthcare services, which added 23,000 jobs last month. The industry also added 12,000 jobs in hospitals and 10,000 jobs in nursing and residential care facilities. Overall in 2012, healthcare employment rose by 338,000 new jobs.

In addition to healthcare, food services and drinking places experienced growth in December, adding 38,000 jobs. Construction also added 30,000 jobs and manufacturing employment rose by 25,000