BLS Releases January 2018 Employment Situation (Feb. 2018)

Employers added 200000 nonfarm payroll jobs in January of 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent.

Job gains occurred in construction food services and drinking places manufacturing and health care. The number of jobs in construction increased by 36000 over the month while food services and drinking places gained 31000 jobs manufacturing gained 15000 jobs and health care gained 21000 jobs.

Job growth in December 2017 was revised to 160000 up from the initially estimated 148000.  Over the past three months job growth has averaged 192000 additions a month. 

Average hourly earnings rose by nine cents to $26.74. Over the year average hourly earnings have risen 2.9 percent.  

The full BLS press release on the January 2018 employment situation can be accessed in the link below:

The next employment situation report for February 2018 will be released on Friday March 9 2018.