From The US Bureau of Labor Statistics: November 7, 2003
Employment Situation Summary
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: OCTOBER 2003
Employment rose in October, and the unemployment rate, at 6.0 percent, was
essentially unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 126,000 in October,
following a similar increase (as revised) in September. Job gains occurred in
several service industries in October. Manufacturing employment continued to
decline, but the rate of job loss has moderated in recent months.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The unemployment rate, 6.0 percent, and the number of unemployed persons,
8.8 million, were essentially unchanged in October. Unemployment rates for
the major worker groups--adult men (5.6 percent), adult women (5.2 percent),
teenagers (17.1 percent), whites (5.1 percent), blacks (11.5 percent), and
Hispanics or Latinos (7.2 percent)--also were little changed. The unemploy-
ment rate for Asians was 6.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
In October, 2.0 million unemployed persons had been looking for work for 27
weeks or longer, about the same level as in September. They represented 23.0
percent of the total unemployed.
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment increased by 441,000 in October to 138.0 million, season-
ally adjusted. The employment-population ratio edged up to 62.2 percent.
The civilian labor force was little changed at 146.8 million, while the labor
force participation rate remained at 66.1 percent.
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 126,000 in October to 130.1 million,
seasonally adjusted. This followed increases totaling 160,000 in August and
September (as revised). During the February-July period, payroll employment
had decreased by an average of 85,000 per month. (See table B-1.)
Professional and business services added 43,000 jobs in October, following
an increase of 70,000 in September. Professional and technical services con-
tributed over half of the job gain (24,000) in October, with its management
and technical consulting services component adding 7,000 jobs. Within admini-
strative and support services, employment in temporary help services continued
to trend up in October. Since April, temporary help has added 150,000 jobs.
Employment in health care and social assistance rose by 34,000 over the
month and by 255,000 over the year. In October, ambulatory health care
services added 18,000 jobs, with about half the gain in offices of
physicians. Social assistance added 8,000 jobs in October, largely in
child day care services. Employment in private educational services grew
by 23,000, seasonally adjusted. Job gains over the last 3 months have
more than offset declines that occurred in June and July. Over the year,
employment in private education grew by 56,000.
Within retail trade, employment in food stores rose by 13,000 in October,
reflecting the hiring of additional workers in anticipation of strikes. Since
April 2000, however, employment in food stores has trended down.
Within the leisure and hospitality sector, food services and drinking
places added 23,000 jobs in October, following a gain of 20,000 in
September. Restaurant employment has increased by 113,000 over the year.
Employment in construction was little changed in October. Since February,
the industry has added 147,000 jobs. In the financial sector, employment in
credit intermediation, which includes mortgage banking, fell by 10,000, re-
flecting the decline in mortgage refinancing activity.
Manufacturing employment decreased by 24,000 in October, with small
losses distributed throughout most of the sector. Factory job losses in
September and October averaged 26,000, well below the 53,000 average for
the prior 12 months.
After a small increase in September, employment in air transportation
was down over the month. Since reaching its most recent peak in March
2001, the industry has lost 138,000 jobs.
Employment Situation Summary
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION: OCTOBER 2003
Employment rose in October, and the unemployment rate, at 6.0 percent, was
essentially unchanged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 126,000 in October,
following a similar increase (as revised) in September. Job gains occurred in
several service industries in October. Manufacturing employment continued to
decline, but the rate of job loss has moderated in recent months.
Unemployment (Household Survey Data)
The unemployment rate, 6.0 percent, and the number of unemployed persons,
8.8 million, were essentially unchanged in October. Unemployment rates for
the major worker groups--adult men (5.6 percent), adult women (5.2 percent),
teenagers (17.1 percent), whites (5.1 percent), blacks (11.5 percent), and
Hispanics or Latinos (7.2 percent)--also were little changed. The unemploy-
ment rate for Asians was 6.1 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
In October, 2.0 million unemployed persons had been looking for work for 27
weeks or longer, about the same level as in September. They represented 23.0
percent of the total unemployed.
Total Employment and the Labor Force (Household Survey Data)
Total employment increased by 441,000 in October to 138.0 million, season-
ally adjusted. The employment-population ratio edged up to 62.2 percent.
The civilian labor force was little changed at 146.8 million, while the labor
force participation rate remained at 66.1 percent.
Industry Payroll Employment (Establishment Survey Data)
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 126,000 in October to 130.1 million,
seasonally adjusted. This followed increases totaling 160,000 in August and
September (as revised). During the February-July period, payroll employment
had decreased by an average of 85,000 per month. (See table B-1.)
Professional and business services added 43,000 jobs in October, following
an increase of 70,000 in September. Professional and technical services con-
tributed over half of the job gain (24,000) in October, with its management
and technical consulting services component adding 7,000 jobs. Within admini-
strative and support services, employment in temporary help services continued
to trend up in October. Since April, temporary help has added 150,000 jobs.
Employment in health care and social assistance rose by 34,000 over the
month and by 255,000 over the year. In October, ambulatory health care
services added 18,000 jobs, with about half the gain in offices of
physicians. Social assistance added 8,000 jobs in October, largely in
child day care services. Employment in private educational services grew
by 23,000, seasonally adjusted. Job gains over the last 3 months have
more than offset declines that occurred in June and July. Over the year,
employment in private education grew by 56,000.
Within retail trade, employment in food stores rose by 13,000 in October,
reflecting the hiring of additional workers in anticipation of strikes. Since
April 2000, however, employment in food stores has trended down.
Within the leisure and hospitality sector, food services and drinking
places added 23,000 jobs in October, following a gain of 20,000 in
September. Restaurant employment has increased by 113,000 over the year.
Employment in construction was little changed in October. Since February,
the industry has added 147,000 jobs. In the financial sector, employment in
credit intermediation, which includes mortgage banking, fell by 10,000, re-
flecting the decline in mortgage refinancing activity.
Manufacturing employment decreased by 24,000 in October, with small
losses distributed throughout most of the sector. Factory job losses in
September and October averaged 26,000, well below the 53,000 average for
the prior 12 months.
After a small increase in September, employment in air transportation
was down over the month. Since reaching its most recent peak in March
2001, the industry has lost 138,000 jobs.
