National Unemployment Update
Unemployment Drops to 8.3 Percent in January 2012
February 6, 2012
The national unemployment rate fell to 8.3% in January, according to figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday, February 3, 2012. That’s the lowest unemployment rate since February 2009 and down 0.2 percent from December’s rate.
Employment rose by 243,000 jobs in January. The largest growth was seen in professional and business services, which added more than 70,000 jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector grew by 44,000 new positions. Health care employment grew by more than 31,000 new jobs. The wholesale and retail trade sectors together added more than 25,000 jobs during January.
The private sector created a total of 257,000 new jobs during January 2012. Those gains were slightly offset by public sector job losses. Over the last year, more than 276,000 public sector jobs have been lost, creating a continuing drag on the economic recovery.
The number of long-term unemployed was down slightly, to 5.5 million workers. Those jobless for 27 weeks or more accounted for 42.9% of the unemployed.
Unemployment figures for February will be released on Friday, March 9, 2012.
U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Press Release
National Unemployment Rates, 2008 - 2012
| |
Jan. |
Feb. |
Mar. |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug. |
Sept. |
Oct. |
Nov. |
Dec. |
| 2012 |
8.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011 |
9.0 |
8.9 |
8.8 |
9.0 |
9.1 |
9.2 |
9.1 |
9.1 |
9.1 |
9.0 |
8.6 |
8.5 |
| 2010 |
9.7 |
9.7 |
9.7 |
9.9 |
9.7 |
9.5 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
9.6 |
9.6 |
9.8 |
9.4 |
| 2009 |
7.6 |
8.1 |
8.5 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
9.5 |
9.4 |
9.7 |
9.8 |
10.2 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
| 2008 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.6 |
6.8 |
7.2 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment Insurance Main Page
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