Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 143,000 in January, and the unemployment rate edged down to 4 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
In January, both the labor force participation rate (62.6 percent) and the employment-population ratio (60.1 percent) were unchanged, after accounting for the annual adjustments to the population controls. Both measures have been relatively flat in recent months.
In January, job gains occurred in health care, retail trade, and social assistance. Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and other services.
In January, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 17 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $35.87. During the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have inc
