February 05, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Unemployment rate rises in January

The number of unemployed rose by about 300,000 in January to nearly 6.0 million, pushing the unemployment rate from 4.0 to 4.2 percent. The jobless rate had ranged from 3.9 to 4.1 percent since October 1999.

Unemployment rates, January 2001 (seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

The unemployment rates for each of the major worker groups—adult men (3.6 percent), adult women (3.6 percent), teenagers (13.8 percent), whites (3.6 percent), blacks (8.4 percent), and Hispanics (6.0 percent)—were marginally higher in January.

These data are a product of the Current Population Survey. All of the above figures are seasonally adjusted. Find out more in "The Employment Situation: January 2001," news release USDL 01-35.

Of Interest: Health Care Spotlight

This Spotlight on Statistics explores BLS data on health care. Discover the "diagnosis" on health care industries and occupations as well as the "prognosis" on future employment.
NEW Spotlight on Statistics: Health Care