Employment rate holds steady at 4.3%
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in January, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.3%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Feb. 11.
Construction added 33,000 jobs in January, reflecting an employment gain in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+25,000). Employment in construction was essentially flat in 2025.
Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining,
quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade;
transportation and warehousing; information; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls edged up by 0.1 hour to 34.3 hours in January. In manufacturing, the average workweek edged up by 0.1 hour to 40.1 hours, and overtime was unchanged at 2.9 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour to 33.8 hours.
In January, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 15 cents, or 0.4%, to $37.17. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.7%. In January, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 12 cents, or 0.4%, to $31.95.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The November/December issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Applied Industrial Technologies. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
