U.S. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO 6.3%, ADDS ONLY 49K JOBS IN JANUARY
Key Points:
Total nonfarm payroll employment rebounded slightly in January, adding 49,000 jobs as the unemployment rate fell by 0.4% to 6.3%.
The January gains came after payrolls fell steeply in December.
Employment in leisure and hospitality declined by 61,000 jobs in January, employment in healthcare declined by 30,000, employment in the amusements, gambling, and recreation industry declined by 27,000, food services and drinking places declined by 19,000, and the accommodation industry declined 18,000.
Employment in professional and business services increased by 97,000 jobs in January, local government education increased by 49,000, state government education increased by 36,000, private education increased by 34,000, and wholesale trade added 14,000 jobs.
In January, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 6 cents to $29.96.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.3 hour to 35.0 hours in January.