Payroll employment rises again in October

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 126,000 in October to 130.1 million, seasonally adjusted. This followed increases totaling 160,000 in August and September. During the February-July period, payroll employment had decreased by an average of 85,000 per month.

[Chart data—TXT]

Professional and business services added 43,000 jobs in October, following an increase of 70,000 in September. Employment in health care and social assistance rose by 34,000 over the month and by 255,000 over the year.

Within retail trade, employment in food stores rose by 13,000 in October, reflecting the hiring of additional workers in anticipation of strikes. Within the leisure and hospitality sector, food services and drinking places added 23,000 jobs in October, following a gain of 20,000 in September.

Employment in construction was little changed in October. Since February, the industry has added 147,000 jobs. In the financial sector, employment in credit intermediation, which includes mortgage banking, fell by 10,000, reflecting the decline in mortgage refinancing activity.

Manufacturing employment decreased by 24,000 in October, with small losses distributed throughout most of the sector. After a small increase in September, employment in air transportation was down over the month. Since reaching its most recent peak in March 2001, the industry has lost 138,000 jobs.

Payroll employment data are from the Current Employment Statistics program. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for September and October 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see "The Employment Situation: October 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL. 03-675.