The Employment Situation: November 1999 — 1999-12-03

Payroll employment rose in November, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 234,000. Employment in manufacturing held near its October level, while construction and services continued to add jobs over the month. Average hourly earnings rose by 2 cents in November, following a rise of 4 cents (as revised) in October. The number of unemployed persons, 5.7 million, was essentially unchanged in November, and the unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent. The jobless rate has been below 4.3 percent since August. Unemployment rates for the major demographic groups--adult men (3.3 percent), adult women (3.6 percent), teenagers (14.1 percent), whites (3.5 percent), blacks (8.1 percent), and Hispanics (6.0 percent)--showed little or no change over the month.