Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2011-02-04

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. The unemployment rate declined from 9.4 to 9.0 percent in January, and nonfarm payroll employment changed little (+36,000). Since a recent low point in February 2010, nonfarm employment has increased by 1.0 million. In January, employment increased in manufacturing and retail trade, while job losses occurred in transportation and warehousing and in construction. Employment in most other major industries changed little. Manufacturing employment grew by 49,000 over the month and has increased by 161,000 since a recent low point in December 2009. Over the period, durable goods industries accounted for the entire increase. In January, employment increased in motor vehicles and parts (+20,000), fabricated metal products (+13,000), machinery (+10,000), and computer and electronic products (+5,000).