Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2021-01-08

Nonfarm payroll employment declined by 140,000 in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 percent. The decline in payroll employment reflects the recent rise in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and increased efforts to contain the pandemic. In December, job losses in leisure and hospitality and in private education were partially offset by gains elsewhere, particularly in professional and business services, retail trade, and construction. Substantial job losses related to the coronavirus pandemic first occurred in March (-1.4 million) and April (-20.8 million) of 2020. As economic activity resumed, employment increased by 12.5 million from May through November. After declining again in December (-140,000), nonfarm employment was below its February level by 9.8 million, or 6.5 percent. The response rate for the establishment survey was about average in December. The rate for the household survey, while slightly below normal due to pandemic-related issues, was much higher than earlier in the pandemic.