November Employment Blog

By Stephen Singer, November 12, 2013

This is a summary of unemployment and employment data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 204,000 in October,  an increase over the prior 12 months job gains average of 190,000 per month. The unemployment rate was little changed at 7.3 percent.

Employment rose in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, professional and technical services, manufacturing, and health care.

Although data collection was delayed by the Government shutdown, the response rate for the household survey was within its normal range, and the response rate for the establishment survey was above average. There were no discernible impacts of the partial federal government shutdown on the estimates of employment.

Leisure and hospitality employment increased by 53,000 in October, following little change in the previous month. Job growth in the industry averaged 34,000 per month over the prior 12 months.

In October, retail trade gained 44,000 jobs, with increases in food and beverage stores (+12,000), electronics and appliance stores (+10,000), sporting goods and hobby stores (+8,000), general merchandise stores (+8,000), and building material and garden supply stores (+7,000). Clothing and accessories stores lost 13,000 jobs.

Professional and technical services employment rose by 21,000 in October. The management and technical consulting services component added 8,000 jobs.

In October, manufacturing employment rose by 19,000. On net, factory employment has been about unchanged since a recent peak in February 2013.

Within government, federal government employment declined by 12,000 in October. Over the year, job losses in federal government have totaled 94,000

Chart 1 provides 12 months of National Unemployment rates. Chart 2 provides month to month changes in Nonfarm employment.