US unemployment rate edges down to 8.3 percent
February 4th, 2012 - 12:13 am ICT by IANSWashington, Feb 3 (IANS) The US unemployment rate edged down to 8.3 percent in January from 8.5 percent in December 2011, the Labour Department said Friday.
Total US nonfarm payroll employment rose by 243,000 in January, beating economists’ expectations of about 150,000, Xinhua reported.
Private-sector employment grew by 257,000 last month, with governments at all levels trimming 14,000 jobs.
The total number of unemployed people in the nation dropped to 12.8 million in January, said the department.
The unemployment rate declined to a near three-year low since February 2009, an indication that the US economy was on a stronger footing.
The professional and business sector, including accounting and consulting services, added 70,000 jobs in January, while employment in leisure and hospitality sector rose by 44,000.
In January, health care employment continued to grow by 31,000, while employment in both retail and wholesale trade continued to trend up.
Employment in construction increased by 21,000 in January, following a gain of 31,000 in the previous month.
- US unemployment rate remains at 9.1 percent - Oct 08, 2011
- US unemployment rate drops in April - May 05, 2012
- U.S. unemployment rate drops to 8.5 percent, lowest in almost 3 years - Jan 07, 2012
- US jobless rate dips to 9.1 percent in July - Aug 05, 2011
- US economic recovery speeds up: Obama - Feb 04, 2012
- US private-sector added 325,000 jobs in December - Jan 06, 2012
- US stocks tumble after March jobs report - Apr 10, 2012
- Oil rises on positive US jobs data - Feb 04, 2012
- US stocks rise - Mar 10, 2012
- US unemployment rate drops to 8.5 percent - Jan 06, 2012
- US economy grew faster than thought in fourth quarter - Mar 01, 2012
- US jobless claims at lowest level in four years - Feb 17, 2012
- Unemployment gap in the level of education shrinks in US - Feb 20, 2012
- US private sector jobs increase by 110,000 in October - Nov 03, 2011
- US adds less jobs in a sluggish economy (Lead) - Dec 04, 2010
Tags: accounting, business sector, consulting services, economists, economy, footing, governments, health care employment, hospitality sector, jobs, labour department, payroll employment, private sector employment, us unemployment rate, wholesale, wholesale trade, xinhua