In services, the health industry was the only big gainer, adding 40,000 workers.

Financial stocks, big gainers since early October, also lost ground.

Another expensive sector is financial services, 1991's second biggest gainer, up 60.6 percent.

Personnel services, mostly temporary workers, was another big gainer, growing by 45,000 last month and 107,000 for the year.

Construction employment was another big gainer, adding 50,000 people in December and 209,000 for the year.

Once again, technology issues were among the biggest gainers.

Even the Mexican stock market, which this year has been one of the world's biggest gainers, was not immune.

Transportation stocks were big gainers yesterday, as oil prices fell.

Among components of the Dow, consumer companies were the biggest gainers.

But most of the other big gainers on the last day of the month were technology stocks.