{"id":119644,"date":"2021-05-07T09:26:29","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T16:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=119644"},"modified":"2021-05-07T09:26:29","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T16:26:29","slug":"april-employment-rises-by-266000-labor-participation-rate-climbs-to-61-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=119644","title":{"rendered":"April Employment Rises by 266,000. Labor Participation Rate Climbs to 61.7%"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, DC…The latest from the Bureau of Labor Statistics…Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 266,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 6.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains in leisure and hospitality, other services, and local government education were partially offset by employment declines in temporary help services and in couriers and messengers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/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 more
\ninformation about the concepts and statistical methodology used in these two surveys, see
\nthe Technical Note.<\/p>\n

Household Survey Data<\/p>\n

Both the unemployment rate, at 6.1 percent, and the number of unemployed persons, at 9.8
\nmillion, were little changed in April. These measures are down considerably from their
\nrecent highs in April 2020 but remain well above their levels prior to the coronavirus
\n(COVID-19) pandemic (3.5 percent and 5.7 million, respectively, in February 2020). (See
\ntable A-1. See the box note at the end of this news release for more information about
\nhow the household survey and its measures were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.)<\/p>\n

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (6.1 percent), adult
\nwomen (5.6 percent), teenagers (12.3 percent), Whites (5.3 percent), Blacks (9.7 percent),
\nAsians (5.7 percent), and Hispanics (7.9 percent) showed little or no change in April.
\n(See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)<\/p>\n

Among the unemployed, the number of persons on temporary layoff, at 2.1 million, changed
\nlittle in April. This measure is down considerably from the recent high of 18.0 million
\nin April 2020 but is 1.4 million higher than in February 2020. The number of permanent
\njob losers, at 3.5 million, was also little changed over the month but is 2.2 million
\nhigher than in February 2020. (See table A-11.)<\/p>\n

In April, the number of persons jobless less than 5 weeks increased by 237,000 to 2.4
\nmillion, while the number of persons jobless 15 to 26 weeks declined by 188,000 to 1.2
\nmillion. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more), at
\n4.2 million, was essentially unchanged in April but is 3.1 million higher than in
\nFebruary 2020. These long-term unemployed accounted for 43.0 percent of the total
\nunemployed in April. (See table A-12.)<\/p>\n

The labor force participation rate was little changed at 61.7 percent in April and is
\n1.6 percentage points lower than in February 2020. The employment-population ratio was
\nalso little changed in April at 57.9 percent but is up by 0.5 percentage point since
\nDecember 2020. However, this measure is 3.2 percentage points below its February 2020
\nlevel. (See table A-1.)<\/p>\n

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons decreased by 583,000 to
\n5.2 million in April. This decline reflected a drop in the number of people whose
\nhours were cut due to slack work or business conditions. The number of persons employed
\npart time for economic reasons is 845,000 higher than in February 2020. These
\nindividuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part time
\nbecause their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. (See
\ntable A-8.)<\/p>\n

In April, the number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job was 6.6
\nmillion, little changed over the month but up by 1.6 million since February 2020. 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
\nApril but is up by 419,000 since February 2020. These individuals wanted and were
\navailable for work and had looked for a job sometime in the prior 12 months but had not
\nlooked for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey. The number of discouraged workers,
\na subset of the marginally attached who believed that no jobs were available for them,
\nwas little changed at 565,000 in April but is 164,000 higher than in February 2020.
\n(See Summary table A.)<\/p>\n

Household Survey Supplemental Data<\/p>\n

In April, 18.3 percent of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus
\npandemic, down from 21.0 percent in the prior month. These data refer to employed persons
\nwho teleworked or worked at home for pay at some point in the last 4 weeks specifically
\nbecause of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

In April, 9.4 million persons reported that they had been unable to work because their
\nemployer closed or lost business due to the pandemic–that is, they did not work at all
\nor worked fewer hours at some point in the last 4 weeks due to the pandemic. This measure
\nis down from 11.4 million in the previous month. Among those who reported in April that
\nthey were unable to work because of pandemic-related closures or lost business, 9.3 percent
\nreceived at least some pay from their employer for the hours not worked, little changed
\nfrom the previous month.<\/p>\n

Among those not in the labor force in April, 2.8 million persons were prevented from
\nlooking for work due to the pandemic. This measure is down from 3.7 million the month
\nbefore. (To be counted as unemployed, by definition, individuals must be either actively
\nlooking for work or on temporary layoff.)<\/p>\n

These supplemental data come from questions added to the household survey beginning in May
\n2020 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 months
\nare available online at www.bls.gov\/cps\/effects-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.htm.<\/p>\n

Establishment Survey Data<\/p>\n

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 266,000 in April, following increases of
\n770,000 in March and 536,000 in February. In April, nonfarm employment is down by 8.2
\nmillion, or 5.4 percent, from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020. In April, notable
\njob gains in leisure and hospitality, other services, and local government education were
\npartially offset by losses in temporary help services and in couriers and messengers.
\n(See table B-1. See the box note at the end of this news release for more information about
\nhow the establishment survey and its measures were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.)<\/p>\n

In April, employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 331,000, as pandemic-related
\nrestrictions continued to ease in many parts of the country. More than half of the increase
\nwas in food services and drinking places (+187,000). Job gains also occurred in amusements,
\ngambling, and recreation (+73,000) and in accommodation (+54,000). Although leisure and
\nhospitality has added 5.4 million jobs over the year, employment in the industry is down
\nby 2.8 million, or 16.8 percent, since February 2020.<\/p>\n

In April, employment increased by 44,000 in the other services industry, with gains in
\nrepair and maintenance (+14,000) and personal and laundry services (+14,000). Employment
\nin other services is 352,000 below its February 2020 level.<\/p>\n

Employment in local government education increased by 31,000 in April but is 611,000 lower
\nthan in February 2020. Federal government employment increased by 9,000 over the month.<\/p>\n

In April, employment in social assistance rose by 23,000, with about half of the increase
\nin child day care services (+12,000). Employment in social assistance is 286,000 lower
\nthan in February 2020.<\/p>\n

Employment in financial activities rose by 19,000 over the month, with most of the gain
\noccurring in real estate and rental and leasing (+17,000). Employment in financial
\nactivities is down by 63,000 since February 2020.<\/p>\n

Within professional and business services, employment in temporary help services declined
\nby 111,000 in April and is 296,000 lower than in February 2020. Business support services
\nlost jobs in April (-15,000), while architectural and engineering services and scientific
\nresearch and development services added jobs (+12,000 and +7,000, respectively).<\/p>\n

Within transportation and warehousing, employment in couriers and messengers fell by
\n77,000 in April but is up by 126,000 since February 2020. Air transportation added 7,000
\njobs over the month.<\/p>\n

Manufacturing employment edged down in April (-18,000), following gains in the previous 2
\nmonths (+54,000 in March and +35,000 in February). In April, job losses in motor vehicles
\nand parts (-27,000) and in wood products (-7,000) more than offset job gains in
\nmiscellaneous durable goods manufacturing (+13,000) and chemicals (+4,000). Employment in
\nmanufacturing is 515,000 lower than in February 2020.<\/p>\n

Retail trade employment changed little in April (-15,000), following a gain in the prior
\nmonth (+33,000). In April, employment declined in food and beverage stores (-49,000),
\ngeneral merchandise stores (-10,000), and gasoline stations (-9,000). These losses were
\npartially offset by employment increases in sporting goods, hobby, book, and music stores
\n(+20,000); clothing and clothing accessories stores (+10,000); and health and personal
\ncare stores (+9,000). Employment in retail trade overall is 400,000 lower than in February
\n2020.<\/p>\n

Employment in health care changed little in April (-4,000), as a job gain in ambulatory
\nhealth care services (+21,000) was largely offset by a job loss in nursing care facilities
\n(-19,000). Health care employment is down by 542,000 since February 2020.<\/p>\n

Employment in construction was unchanged over the month. Employment in the industry is up
\nby 917,000 over the year but is 196,000 below its February 2020 level.<\/p>\n

In April, employment changed little in other major industries, including mining,
\nwholesale trade, and information.<\/p>\n

In April, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
\nincreased by 21 cents to $30.17, following a decline of 4 cents in the prior month. In
\nApril, average hourly earnings for private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees
\nrose by 20 cents to $25.45. The data for April suggest that the rising demand for labor
\nassociated with the recovery from the pandemic may have put upward pressure on wages.
\nSince average hourly earnings vary widely across industries, the large employment
\nfluctuations since February 2020 complicate the analysis of recent trends in average
\nhourly earnings. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)<\/p>\n

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hour
\nto 35.0 hours in April. In manufacturing, the workweek and overtime were both unchanged
\nover the month, at 40.5 hours and 3.2 hours, respectively. The average workweek for
\nproduction and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.4
\nhours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.)<\/p>\n

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for February was revised up by 68,000, from
\n+468,000 to +536,000, and the change for March was revised down by 146,000, from +916,000
\nto +770,000. With these revisions, employment in February and March combined is 78,000
\nlower than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received
\nfrom businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the
\nrecalculation of seasonal factors.)<\/p>\n

_____________
\nThe Employment Situation for May is scheduled to be released on Friday, June 4, 2021, at
\n8:30 a.m. (ET).<\/p>\n

_______________________________________________________________________________________
\n| |
\n| Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on April 2021 |
\n| Household and Establishment Survey Data |
\n| |
\n| Data collection for both surveys was affected by the pandemic. In the establishment |
\n| survey, more data continued to be collected by web than in months prior to the |
\n| pandemic. In the household survey, for the safety of both interviewers and |
\n| respondents, in-person interviews were conducted only when telephone interviews could |
\n| not be done. |
\n| |
\n| As in previous months, some workers affected by the pandemic who should have been |
\n| classified as unemployed on temporary layoff were instead misclassified as employed |
\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. |
\n| Repeating this same approach, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April 2021 |
\n| would have been 0.3 percentage point higher than reported. However, this represents |
\n| the upper bound of our estimate of misclassification and probably overstates the size |
\n| of the misclassification error. |
\n| |
\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-april-2021.htm. |
\n|_______________________________________________________________________________________|<\/p>\n