Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2016-01-08

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 292,000 in December, and the unemployment rate held at 5.0 percent. Job growth occurred in several industries, led by professional and business services, construction, health care, and food services and drinking places. Mining employment continued to decline. Incorporating revisions for October and November, which increased nonfarm payroll employment by 50,000, monthly job gains have averaged 284,000 over the past 3 months. In 2015, job growth averaged 221,000 per month, compared with an average of 260,000 per month in 2014. Professional and business services added 73,000 jobs in December. Much of the gain occurred in temporary help services (+34,000). In 2015, employment in professional and business services increased by an average of 50,000 per month, compared with an average of 59,000 in 2014.