Initial Unemployment Claims

November 14,  2024 Initial unemployment claims fell 4 thousand in the week ending November 9 after rising 3 thousand in the previous week.   This series has risen slightly in the past six months.  The 4-week average of claims was 210 thousand at the end of April vs....

Payroll Employment

November 1, 2024 Payroll employment rose of just 12 thousand in October after having climbed 223 thousand in September and 78 thousand in August.  In addition to the smaller-than-expected increase in payroll employment in October, the August and September increases...

Private Employment

November 1, 2024 Private sector employment fell by 28  thousand in October after having climbed 192 thousand in September and 37 thousand in August.  In addition to the unexpected drop in private sector employment in October, the August and September increases were...

Unemployment Rate

November 1, 2024 The unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 4.1% after having fallen 0.1% in September and having declined 0.1% August.  In October the labor force fell 220 thousand..  Employment declined 368 thousand.  As a result, the number of unemployed...

Nonfarm Workweek

November 1, 2024 In any given month employers can boost output by either additional hiring workers or by lengthening the number of  hours that their employees work.  Payroll employment climbed by 12 thousand in October.   At the same time the nonfarm workweek was...

Average Hourly Earnings

November 1, 2024 Average  hourly earnings rose 0.4% in October to $35.46 after having increased 0.3% September and 0.4% in August.  Earnings growth has slowed from 4.3% at the end of  last year to 4.0% currently.  The earlier decline in earnings appears to reflect the...