01.10.2020
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 145000 in December and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.5 percent the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in retail trade and health care while mining lost jobs.
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 145000 in December. Notable job gains occurred in retail trade and health care while mining lost jobs. In 2019 payroll employment rose by 2.1 million down from a gain of 2.7 million in 2018. (See table B-1.) In December retail trade added 41000 jobs. Employment increased in clothing and accessories stores (+33000) and in building material and garden supply stores (+7000); both industries showed employment declines in the prior month. Employment in retail trade changed little on net in both 2019 and 2018 (+9000 and +14000 respectively). Employment in health care increased by 28000 in December. Ambulatory health care services and hospitals added jobs over the month (+23000 and +9000 respectively). Health care added 399000 jobs in 2019 compared with an increase of 350000 in 2018.
Employment in leisure and hospitality continued to trend up in December (+40000). The industry added 388000 jobs in 2019 similar to the increase in 2018 (+359000). Mining employment declined by 8000 in December. In 2019 employment in mining declined by 24000 after rising by 63000 in 2018. Construction employment changed little in December (+20000). Employment in the industry rose by 151000 in 2019 about half of the 2018 gain of 307000.
In December employment in professional and business services showed little change (+10000). The industry added 397000 jobs in 2019 down from an increase of 561000 jobs in 2018. Employment in transportation and warehousing changed little in December (-10000). Employment in the industry increased by 57000 in 2019 about one-fourth of the 2018 gain of 216000. Manufacturing employment was little changed in December (-12000). Employment in the industry changed little in 2019 (+46000) after increasing in 2018 (+264000). In December employment showed little change in other major industries including wholesale trade information financial activities and government.
In December average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 3 cents to $28.32. Over the last 12 months average hourly earnings have increased by 2.9 percent. In December average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees at $23.79 were little changed (+2 cents).
The full BLS press release on the December 2019 employment situation can be accessed in the pdf below:
The next employment situation report for January 2020 is scheduled to be released on Friday February 7 2020.
