Unemployment Remains Steady

 

Chart 2. Nonfarm payroll employment over-the-month change, seasonally adjusted, February 2008 to February 2010. Chart 1. Unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, February 2008 to February 2010. - Photo Courtesy Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed (-36,000) in February, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent. Employment fell in construction and information, while temporary help services added jobs. Severe winter weather in parts of the country may have affected payroll employment and hours; however, it is not possible to quantify pre-cisely the net impact of the winter storms on these measures.

In February, the number of unemployed persons, at 14.9 million, was essentially unchanged. About 2.5 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force in February, an increase of 476,000 from a year earlier. Among the marginally attached, there were 1.2 million discouraged workers in February, up by 473,000 from a year earlier.

The number of persons working part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) increased from 8.3 to 8.8 million in February, partially offsetting a large decrease in the prior month. These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. Maybe you had to cut back your employees?EUR??,,????'?????<