Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2013-03-08

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 236,000 in February, and the unemployment rate edged down from 7.9 to 7.7 percent. In the prior 3 months, employment had risen by an average of 195,000 per month. In February, employment increased in professional and business services, construction, and health care. Employment in professional and business services rose by 73,000 in February after being little changed (+16,000) in January. The industry had added an average of 47,000 jobs per month in 2012. In February, employment increased by 44,000 in administrative and support services, which includes employment services and services to buildings. Accounting and bookkeeping added 11,000 jobs, and employment growth continued in computer systems design and in management and technical consulting services. Construction added 48,000 jobs in February.