Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation — 2004-12-03

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. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 112,000 in November, following a gain of 303,000 in October. Since its most recent low point in August 2003, payroll employment has increased by 2.3 million, or 152,000 per month. In November, there were job gains in health care and social assistance, professional and technical services, and other service-providing industries. The unemployment rate was essentially unchanged in November at 5.4 percent. Employment in health care and social assistance continued to expand in November, with an increase of 28,000. Over the year, the industry added 316,000 jobs, with gains throughout the component industries. Over the month, employment increased in doctors� offices, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities. Professional and technical services added 16,000 jobs in November.