Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2017-02-03

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 Standard Time. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 227,000 in January, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.8 percent. Job gains occurred in retail trade, construction, and financial activities. In 2016, job gains averaged 187,000 per month. Incorporating revisions for November and December, which decreased nonfarm payroll employment by 39,000 on net, monthly job gains have averaged 183,000 over the past 3 months. Retail trade employment rose by 46,000 in January and by 229,000 over the year. Three industries added jobs in January-- clothing and clothing accessories stores (+18,000), electronics and appliance stores (+8,000), and furniture and home furnishing stores (+6,000). Construction employment rose by 36,000 in January. Employment increased in residential building (+9,000) and continued to trend up among residential specialty trade contractors (+11,000).