Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2012-10-05

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 Daylight Time. The unemployment rate declined by 0.3 percentage point to 7.8 percent in September, and nonfarm payroll employment increased by 114,000. In 2012, job gains have averaged 146,000 per month, compared with 153,000 per month in 2011. In September, health care employment rose by 44,000, largely in ambulatory health care services. Over the last 12 months, health care employment has risen by 295,000. Transportation and warehousing employment increased by 17,000 in September. Employment in this industry has risen by 104,000 over the year. Manufacturing employment edged down over the month (-16,000), with declines in computer and electronic products (-6,000) and in printing and related activities (-3,000). On net, manufacturing employment has been unchanged since April. Employment in temporary help services was essentially unchanged in September and August.