{"id":115673,"date":"2021-03-05T10:29:32","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T18:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=115673"},"modified":"2021-03-05T10:29:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T18:29:32","slug":"379000-jobs-added-in-february-with-leisure-hospitality-leading-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=115673","title":{"rendered":"379,000 Jobs Added in February with Leisure & Hospitality Leading the Way"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, DC…Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 379,000 in February, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 6.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The labor market continued to reflect the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In February, most of the job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, with smaller gains in temporary help services, health care and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. Employment declined in state and local government education, construction, and mining. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

_______________________________________________________________________________________
\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n|\t\t Effect of Severe Winter Storms on Employment Estimates\t\t\t|
\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n| Severe winter weather occurred in much of the country during the February reference \t|
\n| periods for the establishment and household surveys. For information on how weather \t|
\n| can affect data on employment and hours, see Question 8 in the Frequently Asked \t|
\n| Questions section of this news release.\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n|_______________________________________________________________________________________|<\/p>\n

This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household survey
\nmeasures labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics. The
\nestablishment survey measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. For
\nmore information about the concepts and statistical methodology used in these two
\nsurveys, see the Technical Note.<\/p>\n

Household Survey Data<\/p>\n

Both the unemployment rate, at 6.2 percent, and the number of unemployed persons, at
\n10.0 million, changed little in February. Although both measures are much lower than
\ntheir April 2020 highs, they remain well above their pre-pandemic levels in February 2020
\n(3.5 percent and 5.7 million, respectively). (See table A-1. See the box note at the end
\nof this news release for more information about how the household survey and its measures
\nwere affected by the coronavirus pandemic.)<\/p>\n

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asians declined to 5.1 percent
\nin February. The rates for adult men (6.0 percent), adult women (5.9 percent), teenagers
\n(13.9 percent), Whites (5.6 percent), Blacks (9.9 percent), and Hispanics (8.5 percent)
\nshowed little or no change. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)<\/p>\n

Among the unemployed, the number of persons on temporary layoff fell by 517,000 in
\nFebruary to 2.2 million. This measure is 1.5 million higher than the level a year
\nearlier but is down considerably from the recent high of 18.0 million in April 2020. The
\nnumber of permanent job losers, at 3.5 million, was essentially unchanged in February
\nbut is 2.2 million higher than a year earlier. (See table A-11.)<\/p>\n

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more), at 4.1 million,
\nchanged little over the month but is up by 3.0 million over the year. In February, these
\nlong-term unemployed accounted for 41.5 percent of the total unemployed. The number of
\npersons jobless less than 5 weeks, at 2.2 million, also changed little over the month.
\n(See table A-12.)<\/p>\n

The labor force participation rate remained at 61.4 percent in February. This measure is
\n1.9 percentage points lower than the value a year earlier. The employment-population
\nratio, at 57.6 percent, changed little over the month but is down by 3.5 percentage
\npoints over the year. (See table A-1.)<\/p>\n

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons, at 6.1 million, changed
\nlittle in February but is up by 1.7 million over the year. These individuals, who would
\nhave preferred full-time employment, were working part time because their hours had been
\nreduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. (See table A-8.)<\/p>\n

In February, the number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job was
\n6.9 million, little changed over the month but up by 1.9 million over the year. These
\nindividuals were not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking for
\nwork during the last 4 weeks or were unavailable to take a job. (See table A-1.)<\/p>\n

Among those not in the labor force who currently want a job, the number of persons
\nmarginally attached to the labor force, at 1.9 million, was essentially unchanged in
\nFebruary but is up by 453,000 over the year. These individuals wanted and were available
\nfor work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months but had not looked for
\nwork in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. The number of discouraged workers, a subset of
\nthe marginally attached who believed that no jobs were available for them, was 522,000
\nin February, little changed from the previous month but up by 121,000 over the year.
\n(See Summary table A.)<\/p>\n

Household Survey Supplemental Data<\/p>\n

In February, 22.7 percent of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus
\npandemic, down from 23.2 percent in January. These data refer to employed persons who
\nteleworked or worked at home for pay at some point in the last 4 weeks specifically
\nbecause of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

In February, 13.3 million persons reported that they had been unable to work because
\ntheir employer closed or lost business due to the pandemic–that is, they did not work
\nat all or worked fewer hours at some point in the last 4 weeks due to the pandemic.
\nThis measure is down from 14.8 million in January. Among those who reported in February
\nthat they were unable to work because of pandemic-related closures or lost business,
\n10.5 percent received at least some pay from their employer for the hours not worked,
\ndown from 12.7 percent in January.<\/p>\n

Among those not in the labor force in February, 4.2 million persons were prevented from
\nlooking for work due to the pandemic. This measure is down from 4.7 million in January.
\n(To be counted as unemployed, by definition, individuals must be either actively looking
\nfor work or on temporary layoff.)<\/p>\n

These supplemental data come from questions added to the household survey beginning in
\nMay 2020 to help gauge the effects of the pandemic on the labor market. The data are not
\nseasonally adjusted. Tables with estimates from the supplemental questions for all
\nmonths are available online at
\nwww.bls.gov\/cps\/effects-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.htm.<\/p>\n

Establishment Survey Data<\/p>\n

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 379,000 in February but is down by 9.5
\nmillion, or 6.2 percent, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020. In February of
\nthis year, most of the job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, with smaller gains
\nin temporary help services, health care and social assistance, retail trade, and
\nmanufacturing. Employment declined in state and local government education, construction,
\nand mining. (See table B-1. See the box note at the end of this news release for more
\ninformation about how the establishment survey and its measures were affected by the
\ncoronavirus pandemic.)<\/p>\n

In February, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 355,000, as pandemic-
\nrelated restrictions eased in some parts of the country. About four-fifths of the
\nincrease was in food services and drinking places (+286,000). Employment also rose in
\naccommodation (+36,000) and in amusements, gambling, and recreation (+33,000).
\nEmployment in leisure and hospitality is down over the year by 3.5 million, or 20.4
\npercent.<\/p>\n

Within professional and business services, temporary help services added 53,000 jobs in
\nFebruary but is down by 175,000 from a year ago. <\/p>\n

Employment in health care and social assistance increased by 46,000 in February. Health
\ncare employment was little changed over the month (+20,000), following a large decline
\nin the prior month (-85,000). In February, job gains in ambulatory health care services
\n(+29,000) were partially offset by losses in nursing care facilities (-12,000).
\nEmployment in social assistance rose by 26,000, mostly in individual and family
\nservices (+18,000). Employment in health care and social assistance is down by 909,000
\nover the year.<\/p>\n

Retail trade added 41,000 jobs in February. Job growth was widespread in the industry,
\nwith the largest gains occurring in general merchandise stores (+14,000), health and
\npersonal care stores (+12,000), and food and beverage stores (+10,000). These gains were
\npartially offset by a loss in clothing and clothing accessories stores (-20,000).
\nFollowing steep job losses in March and April of 2020 (-2.4 million jobs over the 2
\nmonths combined), retail trade has added 2.0 million jobs from May through February. <\/p>\n

Manufacturing employment increased by 21,000 over the month, led by a gain in
\ntransportation equipment (+10,000). Employment in manufacturing is down by 561,000 over
\nthe year.<\/p>\n

In February, employment declined in local government education (-37,000) and state
\ngovernment education (-32,000). For both industries, February losses partially offset
\ngains in January. Pandemic-related employment declines in 2020 distorted the normal
\nseasonal buildup and layoff patterns in the education sector, making it more challenging
\nto discern the current employment trends in these industries.<\/p>\n

Employment in construction fell by 61,000 in February, largely reflecting declines in
\nnonresidential specialty trade contractors (-37,000) and heavy and civil engineering
\nconstruction (-21,000). Severe winter weather across much of the country may have held
\ndown employment in construction. Employment in the industry is 308,000 below its level a
\nyear earlier.<\/p>\n

Mining shed 8,000 jobs in February, with losses occurring in support activities for
\nmining (-6,000) and in oil and gas extraction (-2,000). Mining has lost 153,000 jobs
\nsince an employment peak in January 2019, though nearly two-thirds of the loss has
\noccurred over the past year.<\/p>\n

In February, employment changed little in other major industries, including wholesale
\ntrade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and other
\nservices. <\/p>\n

In February, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
\nincreased by 7 cents to $30.01. Average hourly earnings for private-sector production
\nand nonsupervisory employees, at $25.19, changed little (+4 cents). The large employment
\nfluctuations over the past year–especially in industries with lower-paid workers–
\ncomplicate the analysis of recent trends in average hourly earnings. (See tables B-3 and
\nB-8.)<\/p>\n

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls declined by 0.3 hour
\nto 34.6 hours in February. In manufacturing, the workweek declined by 0.2 hour to 40.2
\nhours, and overtime declined by 0.1 hour to 3.1 hours. The average workweek for
\nproduction and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls declined by 0.4 hour
\nto 34.0 hours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.)<\/p>\n

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for December was revised down by 79,000,
\nfrom -227,000 to -306,000, and the change for January was revised up by 117,000, from
\n+49,000 to +166,000. With these revisions, employment in December and January combined
\nwas 38,000 higher than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional
\nreports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published
\nestimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.)<\/p>\n

____________
\nThe Employment Situation for March is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 2, 2021,
\nat 8:30 a.m. (ET).<\/p>\n

_______________________________________________________________________________________
\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n| Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on February 2021 |
\n|\t\t\tHousehold and Establishment Survey Data\t\t\t\t|
\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n| Data collection for both surveys was affected by the pandemic. In the establishment \t|
\n| survey, more data continued to be collected by web than in months prior to the \t|
\n| pandemic. In the household survey, for the safety of both interviewers and \t\t|
\n| respondents, in-person interviews were conducted only when telephone interviews could |
\n| not be done. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n| As in previous months, some workers affected by the pandemic who should have been \t|
\n| classified as unemployed on temporary layoff were instead misclassified as employed \t|
\n| but not at work. However, the share of responses that may have been misclassified was |
\n| highest in the early months of the pandemic and has been considerably lower in recent |
\n| months. Since March 2020, BLS has published an estimate of what the unemployment rate |
\n| might have been had misclassified workers been included among the unemployed. \t|
\n| Repeating this same approach, the seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate \t|
\n| would have been 0.5 percentage point higher than reported. However, this represents \t|
\n| the upper bound of our estimate of misclassification and probably overstates the size |
\n| of the misclassification error. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n| \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|
\n| More information about the impact of the pandemic on the two surveys is available at |
\n| www.bls.gov\/covid19\/employment-situation-covid19-faq-february-2021.htm. \t\t|
\n|_______________________________________________________________________________________|<\/p>\n