For Delivery: 9:30 A.M., E.S.T. — 2003-11-07

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. Kathleen P. Utgoff Commissioner Bureau of Labor Statistics before the Joint Economic Committee UNITED STATES CONGRESS I appreciate this opportunity to comment on the labor market data we released this morning. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 126,000 in October, following increases in August and September that totaled 160,000, after revision. I would note that the payroll survey estimates for the prior 2 months are always subject to revision as we receive reports from additional survey respondents. The increase in payroll employment over the last 3 months contrasts with declines in the February-July period that averaged 85,000 per month. Several service industries added jobs in October. Manufacturing employment continued to decline, although at slower pace than earlier in the year. The unemployment rate, at 6.0 percent, was essentially unchanged over the month.