Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2012-09-07

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 Daylight Time. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 96,000 in August, and the unemployment rate edged down to 8.1 percent. Since the beginning of the year, job growth has averaged 139,000 per month, compared with an average monthly gain of 153,000 in 2011. In August, food services and drinking places, professional and technical services, and health care added jobs. Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 28,000 over the month. Over the past 12 months, this industry has added 298,000 jobs. Within professional and technical services, employment increased in August in computer systems design (+11,000) and management and technical consulting services (+9,000). Over the past 12 months, these industries have added 79,000 and 69,000 jobs, respectively.