September U.S. unemployment: same at 9.6%
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released figures for U.S. unemployment on October 8. Nonfarm payroll employment declined (-95,000) in September 2010 but the employment rate was unchanged at 9.6%. Census 2010 job losses and job losses in local government combined to create a loss of government jobs (-159,000), while private sector employment increased very modestly (+64,000).
The report had the following to say about worker groups:
The long-term unemployed (27 weeks or greater) numbered 6.1 million, which was little changed over the month but DOWN by 640,000 from the high in May. Some 41.7 percent of the unemployed were counted among the long-term unemployed in September.
The number of people who worked part time for economic reasons (the so-called “involuntary part-time workers”) increased by 612,000 during September, to 9.5 million. Over the last two months, these workers have increased by 943,000. They worked part time because their hours had been cut back or because they could not find a full-time job.
Around 2.5 million people were “marginally atttached to the workforce during September, up from 2.2 million a year ago. They were not counted among the unemployed because they had not searched for work in the four weeks that preceded the survey. In this group were 1.2 million discouraged workers (up by 503,000 from a year ago) who are not looking for work because they believe that no jobs are available for them. The other 1.3 million in the group had not searched for work during the four weeks for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.
The report had the following to say about work in various categories of jobs:
“Health care employment rose by 24,000 in September. The increase was concentrated in ambulatory health care services (+17,000). Health care employment has risen by an average of 21,000 per month this year.
Within professional and business services, employment services added 28,000 jobs in September. Temporary help services accounted for most of the gain.
Within leisure and hospitality, employment in food services and drinking places increased by 34,000 over the month and has risen by 104,000 thus far in 2010.
Mining employment continued to trend up (+6,000) over the month. Mining has added 77,000 jobs since a recent low in October 2009.
Employment in manufacturing changed little in September and, on net, has been essentially flat since May. The industry added 134,000 jobs during the first 5 months of the year.
Employment in wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, information, and financial activities showed little change in September.
Employment in construction edged down (-21,000) over the month, partly offsetting an employment gain in August. Both the August and September changes were concentrated among nonresidential specialty trade contractors. Construction employment has shown little net change since February.
Government employment fell by 159,000 in September. A decline in federal government employment was due to the loss of 77,000 temporary Census 2010 jobs. As of September, about 6,000 temporary decennial census workers remained on the federal government payroll, down from a peak of 564,000 in May. Employment in local government decreased by 76,000 in September with job losses in both education and noneducation.”
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for July was revised from -54,000 to -66,000, and the change for August was revised from -54,000 to -57,000.
-Bill at
Cheshire Cat Photo™ – “Your Guide to California’s Wonderland™”
You can view higher-resolution photos (*generally* 7-30 megabytes, compressed) at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, where you can also order prints and gifts decorated with the photos of your choice from the gallery. The Cheshire Cat Photo Store on Zazzle contains a wide variety of apparel and gifts decorated with our images of California. Framed prints and prints on canvas can be ordered from our galleries on redbubble®. All locations are accessible from here. Be a “Facebook Fan” of Cheshire Cat Photo here! If you don’t see what you want or would be on our email list for updates, send us an email at info@cheshirecatphoto.com.
©2010 William F. Hackett. All Rights Reserved.
