Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2013-05-03

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 Daylight Time. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 165,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 7.5 percent. Over the prior 12 months, job gains averaged 169,000 per month. In April, employment grew in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, retail trade, and health care. Professional and business services added 73,000 jobs over the month and has added 587,000 jobs over the year. In April, employment rose in temporary help services (+31,000), professional and technical services (+23,000), and management of companies (+7,000). Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 38,000 in April. Employment in this industry has increased by 320,000 over the year. In April, retail trade employment increased by 29,000.