WASHINGTON—U.S. employers slowed their hiring in November, but wage growth matched the highest rate in nearly a decade and unemployment held at its lowest level in nearly half a century, signs of an economy that could be losing some momentum at the end of a strong year.

Nonfarm payrolls increased a seasonally adjusted 155,000 in November and averaged growth of 170,000 a month over the past three months. It was the slowest three-month growth rate in a year but continued a record-setting streak of 98 straight months of job gains.