The Employment Situation: April 2003 — 2003-05-02

The unemployment rate rose to 6.0 percent in April, and nonfarm payroll employment edged down by 48,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. In April, job losses continued in manufacturing, some travel-related industries, and department stores. The number of unemployed persons increased to 8.8 million in April, and the unemployment rate rose from 5.8 to 6.0 percent. The unemployment rate has ranged from 5.6 to 6.0 percent since November 2001. The unemployment rate for adult men increased by 0.3 percentage point to 5.6 percent in April. Jobless rates for adult women (5.1 percent), teenagers (18.0 percent), whites (5.2 percent), blacks or African Americans (10.9 percent), and Hispanics or Latinos (7.5 percent) showed little or no change. The unemployment rate for Asians was 5.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted.