Eye On Housing
The count of unfilled jobs in the construction sector climbed in April, rising to the highest level since September of last year. According to the BLS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) and NAHB analysis, the number of open construction sector jobs (on a seasonally adjusted basis) stood at 203,000 in April. The cycle high was 238,000, set in July of last year. The open position rate (job… Read More ›
The BLS released the Employment Situation report for April. Payroll employment rebounded, adding 211 thousand, after an unexpectedly soft March, a gain of only 79 thousand. Monthly gains have averaged 185 thousand in the first four months of 2017 compared to 187 thousand in all of 2016. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.4% based on a gain of 156 thousand employed… Read More ›
Unusually warm weather in January and February may have accelerated hiring in those months at the expense of additions to March payroll gains. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that severe weather (e.g., the mid-March snow storms in the Midwest and Northeast) is more likely to reduce hours worked than workers on payrolls, but that “it is not possible… Read More ›
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its Employment Situation report for February. Nonfarm payrolls expanded by 235 thousand and the prior two months were revised a net 9 thousand higher. The unemployment rate edged lower to 4.7%, based on a strong gain in employed persons (447 thousand) that outpaced a strong gain in the labor force (340 thousand), from… Read More ›
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its Employment Situation report for January including the standard annual revisions to earlier years. The revisions include benchmarking payroll employment counts to reflect more comprehensive counts, affecting data from April 2015 forward, and updated seasonal adjustment factors, affecting data from January 2012 forward. Historical data from the household survey is not revised but… Read More ›
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported payroll employment rose by 156 thousand in December and revisions to estimates for the prior two months were mixed but added a net 19 thousand. The unemployment rate rose to 4.7% from 4.6% in November, an increase that barely escaped rounding error magnitude. Average hourly earnings rose 2.9% over the year. A broader… Read More ›
Steady payroll gains, a drop in the unemployment rate, decent wage gains. The stage is set for the Federal Reserve to take a second step on the path to monetary policy normalization at the upcoming December meeting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported payroll employment rose by 178 thousand in November and revisions to estimates for the prior two… Read More ›
The labor market report for October showed steady gains in payroll employment, little change in the unemployment rate and a slight acceleration in wage gains. No surprises. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported payroll employment rose by 161 thousand in October and upward revisions added 44 thousand to estimates for the prior two months. Payroll gains have averaged 176… Read More ›
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported payroll employment rose by 156 thousand in September and the unemployment rate inched up to 5.0%. Payrolls for the prior two months were revised in opposite directions with a net reduction of seven thousand. Payroll growth edged down and the unemployment rate edged up but the employment situation in September is better than… Read More ›
The statement released following the September meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) fell in line with market expectations as the committee chose to keep the federal funds rate unchanged. The Committee’s assessment of the economy remained positive, leaving a December rate hike very much in play. In the statement, the Committee continued its upbeat assessment of labor and economic activity…. Read More ›