The Employment Situation: December 2000 — 2001-01-05

Employment rose modestly in December, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.0 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 105,000, as gains in government and other service-producing industries more than offset large declines in manufacturing and help supply services. Over the last 3 months of 2000, total payroll employment gains averaged 77,000, compared with an average monthly gain of 187,000 during the first 9 months of the year and 229,000 a month for all of 1999. Average hourly earnings increased by 5 cents in December. Both the number of unemployed persons, 5.7 million, and the unemployment rate, 4.0 percent, were unchanged in December. The jobless rate has ranged from 3.9 to 4.1 percent since October 1999.