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.


                            Statement of

                          Erica L. Groshen
                            Commissioner
                     Bureau of Labor Statistics

                     Friday, February 6, 2015
                     

      Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 257,000 in January, 
and the unemployment rate, at 5.7 percent, was little changed. 
Job gains occurred in retail trade, construction, health care, 
financial activities, and manufacturing.

        After incorporating revisions that increased total nonfarm 
employment by 147,000 for November and December combined 
(including the impact of the annual benchmark process), monthly 
job gains have averaged 336,000 over the past 3 months. In 2014, 
employment growth averaged 260,000 per month.

        Retail trade added 46,000 jobs in January. Employment 
increased in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores 
(+9,000); motor and vehicle parts dealers (+8,000); and nonstore 
retailers (+6,000). 

        Construction employment increased by 39,000 in January. 
Job gains occurred in residential and nonresidential building 
(+13,000 and +7,000, respectively). In 2014, employment growth 
in construction averaged 28,000 per month.

        Health care added 38,000 jobs in January. Employment rose 
in offices of physicians (+13,000), hospitals (+10,000), and 
nursing and residential care facilities (+7,000). Job growth in 
health care averaged 26,000 per month in 2014.

        Employment in financial activities increased by 26,000 in 
January, with about half the gain in insurance carriers and 
related activities (+14,000). Employment in the securities 
industry rose by 5,000. In 2014, financial activities added 
159,000 jobs.

        Manufacturing employment increased by 22,000 in January. 
Job gains occurred in motor vehicles and parts (+7,000) and wood 
products (+4,000). Over the past 12 months, employment in 
manufacturing has grown by 228,000. 

        Employment in professional and technical services rose by 
33,000 in January. Within the industry, job gains occurred in 
architectural and engineering services (+8,000) and computer 
systems design (+8,000). In 2014, professional and technical 
services added an average of 25,000 jobs per month. 

        Food services and drinking places employment continued to 
trend up (+35,000) in January, in line with average job growth 
in 2014. 

        Average hourly earnings of all employees on private 
nonfarm payrolls rose by 12 cents to $24.75 in January, 
following a decline of 5 cents in December. Over the past 12 
months, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.2 percent. From 
December 2013 to December 2014, the Consumer Price Index for All 
Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased by 0.7 percent.  

      Turning to the survey of households, the unemployment rate 
was little changed at 5.7 percent in January. The jobless rate 
has shown no net change since October. There were 9.0 million 
unemployed persons in January, little different from the prior 
month. The number of unemployed persons who had been jobless for 
27 weeks or more was essentially unchanged (2.8 million). These 
individuals accounted for 31.5 percent of the total unemployed.

        The labor force participation rate increased by 0.2 
percentage points to 62.9 percent in January, following a 
decline of the same magnitude in the prior month. The 
employment-population ratio was little changed at 59.3 percent 
in January. Among the employed, the number of persons working 
part time for economic reasons was 6.8 million, about unchanged 
over the month. These individuals would have preferred full-time 
employment, but had their hours cut or were unable to find full-
time work.

        Following our usual practice, there were routine annual 
adjustments to the data from our two surveys. The establishment 
survey data released today reflect the incorporation of annual 
benchmark revisions. Each year, we re-anchor our sample-based 
survey estimates to full universe counts of employment, 
primarily derived from the Quarterly Census of Employment and 
Wages, which enumerates jobs covered by the unemployment 
insurance tax system. (Additional information about the 
benchmark revision and its impact is contained in our news 
release and on our website at 
www.bls.gov/web/empsit/cesbmart.htm.)

        Household survey data for January reflect updated 
population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. This year, the 
impact of the new controls on the unemployment rate and other 
ratios is negligible. (Further information can be found in our 
news release and on our website at www.bls.gov/cps/cps15adj.pdf.)

        In summary, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 
257,000 in January, and the unemployment rate was little changed 
at 5.7 percent.