U.S. stocks ended nearly flat on Friday after the U.S. government reported slower job growth than expected and a boost in inflation.

The Labor Department reported employment growth in November rose by 94,000 jobs, while the employment rate held steady at 4.7 percent. The figures were close to the median projection of 100,000 new jobs, according to Thomson/IFR.

In the report, average hourly earnings increased faster than expected at 0.5 percent in November. Forecasts had predicted a gain of 0.3 percent.

The Dow Jones Industrial average rose 4 points, or 0.03 percent to close at 13,621. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 0.20, or 0.01 percent, to 1,507.30, while the Nasdaq composite index dipped 0.46, or 0.02 percent, to 2,708.57.