Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2015-02-06

Advance copies of this statement are made available to the press under lock-up conditions with the explicit understanding that the data are embargoed until 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 257,000 in January, and the unemployment rate, at 5.7 percent, was little changed. Job gains occurred in retail trade, construction, health care, financial activities, and manufacturing. After incorporating revisions that increased total nonfarm employment by 147,000 for November and December combined (including the impact of the annual benchmark process), monthly job gains have averaged 336,000 over the past 3 months. In 2014, employment growth averaged 260,000 per month. Retail trade added 46,000 jobs in January. Employment increased in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores (+9,000); motor and vehicle parts dealers (+8,000); and nonstore retailers (+6,000). Construction employment increased by 39,000 in January. Job gains occurred in residential and nonresidential building (+13,000 and +7,000, respectively).