Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2011-01-07

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. In December, the unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 9.4 percent, and nonfarm payroll employment increased by 103,000. From a recent low point in December 2009, payroll employment has risen by 1.1 million, or an average of 94,000 per month. In December, employment increased in leisure and hospitality and in health care but was little changed in other major industries. The leisure and hospitality sector added 47,000 jobs over the month, with continued gains in food services. Employment also rose in amusements, gambling, and recreation. Since a recent low point in leisure and hospitality employment in December 2009, the industry has added nearly a quarter of a million jobs. Health care employment expanded by 36,000 in December and by 266,000 in all of 2010.