03.06.2020
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 273000 in February and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5 percent the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in health care and social assistance food services and drinking places government construction professional and technical services and financial activities.
Employment in health care and social assistance increased by 57000 in February. Health care added 32000 jobs with gains in offices of physicians (+10000) home health care services (+10000) and hospitals (+8000). Employment in social assistance increased by 25000 with a majority of the gain in individual and family services (+18000). Over the past 12 months employment increased by 368000 in health care and by 191000 in social assistance. Food services and drinking places added 53000 jobs in February. Employment in the industry has increased by 252000 over the past 7 months following a lull in job growth earlier in 2019.
In February government employment increased by 45000 led by a gain in state government education (+16000). Federal employment increased by 8000 reflecting the hiring of 7000 temporary workers for the 2020 Census. Construction added 42000 jobs in February following a similar gain in January (+49000). In 2019 job gains averaged 13000 per month. In February employment gains occurred in specialty trade contractors (+26000) and residential building (+10000).
In February employment in professional and technical services increased by 32000. Job growth occurred in architectural and engineering services (+10000) and in scientific research and development services (+5000). Employment continued to trend up in computer systems design and related services (+8000). Over the past 12 months professional and technical services has added 285000 jobs. Employment in financial activities increased by 26000 in February with gains in real estate (+8000) and in credit intermediation and related activities (+6000). Over the past 12 months financial activities has added 160000 jobs. Employment in other major industries including mining manufacturing wholesale trade retail trade transportation and warehousing and information changed little over the month.
In February average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 9 cents to $28.52. Over the past 12 months average hourly earnings have increased by 3.0 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 8 cents to $23.96 in February.
The full BLS press release on the February 2020 employment situation can be accessed in the link below:
The next employment situation report for March 2020 is scheduled to be released on Friday April 3 2020.
