Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Employment Situation Summary (Oct: 10.2%)
Bureau of Labor Statistics ^ | 11/6/2009

Posted on 11/06/2009 5:39:35 AM PST by markomalley

The unemployment rate rose from 9.8 to 10.2 percent in October, and nonfarm payroll employment continued to decline (-190,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The largest job losses over the month were in con- struction, manufacturing, and retail trade.

Household Survey Data

In October, the number of unemployed persons increased by 558,000 to 15.7 million. The unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage point to 10.2 percent, the highest rate since April 1983. Since the start of the recession in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has risen by 8.2 million, and the unemployment rate has grown by 5.3 percentage points. (See table A-1.)

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (10.7 per- cent) and whites (9.5 percent) rose in October. The jobless rates for adult women (8.1 percent), teenagers (27.6 percent), blacks (15.7 percent), and Hispanics (13.1 percent) were little changed over the month. The unemployment rate for Asians was 7.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was little changed over the month at 5.6 million. In October, 35.6 percent of unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or more. (See table A-9.)

The civilian labor force participation rate was little changed over the month at 65.1 percent. The employment-population ratio continued to decline in October, falling to 58.5 percent. (See table A-1.)

The number of persons working part time for economic reasons (sometimes refer- red to as involuntary part-time workers) was little changed in October at 9.3 million. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. (See table A-5.)

About 2.4 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in October, reflecting an increase of 736,000 from a year earlier. (The data are not sea- sonally adjusted.) These individuals were not in the labor force, wanted and were available for work, and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months. They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. (See table A-13.)

Among the marginally attached, there were 808,000 discouraged workers in October, up from 484,000 a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Dis- couraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The other 1.6 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in October had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

Establishment Survey Data

Total nonfarm payroll employment declined by 190,000 in October. In the most re- cent 3 months, job losses have averaged 188,000 per month, compared with losses averaging 357,000 during the prior 3 months. In contrast, losses averaged 645,000 per month from November 2008 to April 2009. Since December 2007, payroll employment has fallen by 7.3 million. (See table B-1.)

Construction employment decreased by 62,000 in October. Monthly job losses have averaged 67,000 during the most recent 6 months, compared with an average decline of 117,000 during the prior 6 months. October job losses were concentrated in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (-30,000) and in heavy construction (-14,000). Since December 2007, employment in construction has fallen by 1.6 mil- lion.

Manufacturing continued to shed jobs (-61,000) in October, with losses in both durable and nondurable goods production. Over the past 4 months, job losses in manufacturing have averaged 51,000 per month, compared with an average monthly loss of 161,000 from October 2008 through June 2009. Manufacturing employment has fallen by 2.1 million since December 2007.

Retail trade lost 40,000 jobs in October. Employment declines were concentrated in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores (-16,000) and in department stores (-11,000). Employment in transportation and warehousing decreased by 18,000 in October.

Health care employment continued to increase in October (29,000). Since the start of the recession, health care has added 597,000 jobs.

Temporary help services has added 44,000 jobs since July, including 34,000 in October. From January 2008 through July 2009, temporary help services had lost an average of 44,000 jobs per month.

The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.0 hours in October. The manufacturing workweek rose by 0.1 hour to 40.0 hours, and factory overtime increased by 0.2 hour over the month. (See table B-2.)

In October, average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $18.72. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.4 percent, while average weekly earnings have risen by only 0.9 percent due to declines in the average workweek. (See table B-3.)

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for August was revised from -201,000 to -154,000, and the change for September was revised from -263,000 to -219,000.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: obamaeconomy; unemployment
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last
More lovely news from the Obama economy. So how's that hope-n-change working for you folks?
1 posted on 11/06/2009 5:39:35 AM PST by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

It’s a race to the bottom!

It’ll be fun watching the ‘spin’ put on this today. :)


2 posted on 11/06/2009 5:41:25 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (We have a Pisher in Chief!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

You could have put this one a calendar three months ago. You knew for damn sure the BLS would have to report an unemployment figure of over 10% eventually, but there was no way they were going to do it before the Friday after the elections.


3 posted on 11/06/2009 5:41:31 AM PST by Haiku Guy (If You have a Right / To the Service I provide / I must be Your Slave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Haiku Guy

The “Big 10”

Our weapon to take out Democrats next year.

Baraq’s Fault!


4 posted on 11/06/2009 5:42:29 AM PST by nascarnation
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

0bama’s FAULT!!!

Trying hard to out Carter the worst President in the history of America.


5 posted on 11/06/2009 5:44:25 AM PST by R0CK3T
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
the unemployment rates for adult men (10.7 per- cent) and whites (9.5 percent) rose in October. The jobless rates for adult women (8.1 percent), teenagers (27.6 percent), blacks (15.7 percent), and Hispanics (13.1 percent) were little changed over the month.

Minorities hit hardest, except for asians who are doing better than whites.

6 posted on 11/06/2009 5:44:25 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Yeah, congratulations, 10.2Bama. Try spinning that one.


7 posted on 11/06/2009 5:45:16 AM PST by ScottinVA (Victory is SWE-E-E-E-T!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin
It’s a race to the bottom!

"It's the fewest number of job losses since ______"

8 posted on 11/06/2009 5:46:01 AM PST by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Obama will say in Congress today that the high employment rate is another reason why we need ObamaCare and the public option.


9 posted on 11/06/2009 5:46:11 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Sorry but 10.2% unemployment actually means 2,000,000,000 jobs saved because without Hussein’s heroic actions, that’s how many more jobs would have been lost.


10 posted on 11/06/2009 5:48:40 AM PST by johniegrad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: R0CK3T

Oh, I think he unseated Carter from that position months ago.


11 posted on 11/06/2009 5:48:46 AM PST by sonrise57 (Help us God for evil men have surrounded us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Heck of a job Barrack.


12 posted on 11/06/2009 5:49:44 AM PST by Reagan69 (The only thing SHOVEL-READY since BO's stimulus has been MICHAEL JACKSON (tammy bruce))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley
the real carnage of OdumboNomics...

U-6 hits 17.5%

(Total unemployed, plus all marginally attached workers, plus total employed part time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers)
13 posted on 11/06/2009 5:50:06 AM PST by FlyingFish
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sonrise57

But....but....the economy grew last quarter. What is going on. Imagine-—just imagine—how bad it would have been without the stimulus. I am mopping as hard as i can....


14 posted on 11/06/2009 5:50:30 AM PST by Vermont Lt (My wife reads my posts. In case the FBI shows up, we will have cookies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Good grief, here comes another round of “inherited” and “Bush’s fault” assertions from the libtards at the White House. /facepalm

Must say, Barry has some seriously awesome economic experts working on this.....Romer, Furman, Bernstein, Goolsbee,Summers..................................they on top of this. =.=


15 posted on 11/06/2009 5:50:44 AM PST by cranked
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Great advice from so many posters on the price of gold. Something about not buying because it was at an all time high.... It was at an all time high a few times from 400 till today, and I am betting my bucks on it going even higher after the all time high it will reach today. But I know all the issues. I can’t eat it. Only primitive idiots like it cause its a shinny thingie. Lead is better. etc. etc. See you again at $2000.00 gold, and promise to not post again about it until $3000.00. Gold and Cheese, what’s not to love??


16 posted on 11/06/2009 5:52:17 AM PST by Gadsden1st
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kabar; All

Count on it.

Who in their right mind would invest or hire anyone with a Socialist in the White House with the most corrupt Congress EVER, poised to take whatever meager earnings you can make in an economy like this? It’s a self-fulfilling circle.

We’re laying people off, but it’s seasonal and always happens this time of year. We won’t be putting many people on over Christmas; we’ll make do with who we have for now and add a few stock boys to schlep cut Christmas trees.

We won’t hire again until Mid-March. There will be four of us running the operation until then.


17 posted on 11/06/2009 5:52:54 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (We have a Pisher in Chief!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: sonrise57

Actually you are correct, my error.

And now we hear just today that Iran may have already tested a Nuclear Weapon?!

So Carter let Iran have our people as hostages and now this Loser allows them to possess a Nuclear Bomb?

This idiot is an unmitigated Disaster!


18 posted on 11/06/2009 5:52:54 AM PST by R0CK3T
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Gadsden1st

So I take it you’re not sitting on any gold or silver? LOL!


19 posted on 11/06/2009 5:55:29 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (We have a Pisher in Chief!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Gadsden1st
Oh, I see. You're were being sarcastic.
20 posted on 11/06/2009 5:56:30 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (We have a Pisher in Chief!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson