Detroit ? U.S. auto sales struggled to gain ground in November and big improvements aren’t expected until people stop worrying about losing their jobs.

Sales were flat compared with last November, according to Autodata Corp. Even higher incentives couldn’t push the needle much beyond the dismal lows seen a year ago, when a credit freeze and the financial meltdown kept car buyers at home.

Fuel-efficient cars showed continued strength, as did crossovers, which are as roomy as SUVs but are built on lower car frames, bolstering fuel economy. Truck sales were again weak.

Last month’s big winner was South Korea’s Hyundai, which posted double-digit sales growth. Sales at the top three sellers in the U.S. — General Motors, Ford and Toyota — held steady, while Chrysler struggled for yet another month.

Sales were down 11 percent from October.