U.S. unemployment rate 4.1 percent in December 2017

U.S. unemployment rate 4.1 percent in December 2017African American unemployment rate falls to record low
Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 6.8 percent unemployment rate for African Americans, lowest since the early 1970s, when the government began tracking the data.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking it in 1972. In 1972, the rate for African Americans ranged from 11.2 percent and 9.4 percent. In the 45 years the data has been tracked, the unemployment rate for black or African American workers aged 16 years and older has never fallen below 7 percent.
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 148,000 in December 2017, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Employment gains occurred in health care, construction, and manufacturing.

In December 2017, the unemployment rate was 4.1 percent for the third consecutive month. The number of unemployed persons, at 6.6 million, was essentially unchanged over the month.
Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were down by 0.6 percentage point and 926,000, respectively.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for teenagers declined to 13.6 percent in December, offsetting an increase in November 2017.

The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) was essentially unchanged at 4.9 million in December but was down by 639,000 over the year. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.

In December, 1.6 million persons were marginally attached to the labor force, about unchanged from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally 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.

Among the marginally attached, there were 474,000 discouraged workers in December, little changed from a year earlier. (The data are not seasonally adjusted.) Discouraged workers are persons not currently looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them. The remaining 1.1 million persons marginally attached to the labor force in December had not searched for work for reasons such as school attendance or family responsibilities.

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 148,000 in December. Job gains occurred in health care, construction, and manufacturing. In 2017, payroll employment growth totaled 2.1 million, compared with a gain of 2.2 million in 2016.

Employment in health care increased by 31,000 in December. Employment continued to trend up in ambulatory health care services (+15,000) and hospitals (+12,000). Health care added 300,000 jobs in 2017, compared with a gain of 379,000 jobs in 2016.

Construction added 30,000 jobs in December, with most of the increase among specialty trade contractors (+24,000). In 2017, construction employment increased by 210,000, compared with a gain of 155,000 in 2016.

Employment in food services and drinking places changed little in December (+25,000). Over the year, the industry added 249,000 jobs, about in line with an increase of 276,000 in 2016.

In December, employment changed little in professional and business services (+19,000). In 2017, the industry added an average of 44,000 jobs per month, in line with its average monthly gain in 2016.

Employment in retail trade was about unchanged in December (-20,000). Within the industry, employment in general merchandise stores declined by 27,000 over the month. Retail trade employment edged down in 2017 (-67,000), after increasing by 203,000 in 2016.

The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.5 hours in December. In manufacturing, the workweek edged down by 0.1 hour to 40.8 hours, while overtime remained at 3.5 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.8 hours.

In December, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 9 cents to $26.63. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 65 cents, or 2.5 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 7 cents to $22.30 in December.
___Video: U.S. December 2017, US economy adds 148K jobs with a jobless rate 4.1%
___Video: U.S. adds 148K jobs in December 2017
___Video: Final Obama Economy- January 6, 2017: U.S. Unemployment Rate for December 2016
___

The Great Recession by the numbers

Dilemma X

The Great Recession and the Global Financial Crisis began in December 2007. By December 2008 the unemployment rate reached 7.2% and reached its peak in October 2009 with an unemployment rate of 10.2%. The financial crisis was triggered by a complex problems in the United States banking system, the U.S. housing bubble and other financial failures.
_______President Donald Trump assumed office January 20, 2017. In January 2017 the number of unemployed persons was 7.6 million and the unemployment rate was 4.8%.
_______President Barack Obama assumed office January 20, 2009. In January 2009 the number of unemployed persons was 11.6 million and the unemployment rate was 7.6%.

Unemployment peaked in October 2009 with an unemployment rate of 10.2% and 15.7 million unemployed persons.
______Between January 2009 and March, 2009 more than 2 million jobs were lost and 663,000 were lost in March 2009 alone. The number of unemployed persons increased to 13.2 million that month.
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George W. Bush served as the 43rd President of the United States from January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009January 2001 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.2% with a total of 6.0 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.6% and for blacks 8.4%. January 2008 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.9% with a total of 7.6 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 4.4% and for blacks 9.2%. December 2008 the nation’s unemployment rate was 7.2% with a total of 11.1 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 6.6% and for blacks 11.9%. January 2009 the nation’s unemployment rate was 7.6% with a total of 11.6 million unemployed persons. For whites the unemployment rate was 6.9% and for African Americans it was 12.6%.
_______Bill Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001January 1994 the nation’s unemployment rate was 5.4% with a total of 7.2 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 4.8% and for blacks 9.8%. In September 2000 the unemployment rate was 3.9%. This was the first time the nation’s unemployment rate had been below 4.0% since January 1970. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.5% and for blacks 7.0%.January 2000 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.0% with a total of 5.7 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.5% and for blacks 7.6%. December 2000 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.0% with a total of 5.7 million unemployed persons. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.5% and for blacks 7.6%. January 2001 the nation’s unemployment rate was 4.2%. The number of unemployed persons rose to 5.95 million. Unemployment rate was the following: whites 3.6% and for blacks 8.4%.

__________December 2017
African American unemployment

African American unemployment for December 2017 declined 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)

African American unemployment for November 2017 was 7.2% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for October 2017 was 7.3% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for September 2017 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for August 2017 was 7.6% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for July 2017 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for June 2017 was 7.1% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for May 2017 was 7.5% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for December 2016 was 7.8% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for November 2016 was 8.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for October 2016 was 8.6% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for September 2016 was 8.3% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for August 2016 was 8.1% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for July 2016 was 8.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for June 2016 was 8.6% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for May 2016 was 8.2% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for April 2016 was 8.8% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for March 2016 was 9.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for January 2016 was 8.8% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for May 2015 was 10.2% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for April 2015 was 9.6% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for March 2015 was 10.1% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for February 2015 was 10.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for January 2015 was 10.3% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for December 2014 was 10.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for November 2014 was 11.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for October 2014 was 10.9% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for September 2014 was 11.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for August 2014 was 11.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for July 2014 was 11.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for June 2014 was 10.7% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for May 2014 was 11.5% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for January 2014 was 12.1% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for December 2013 was 11.9% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for November 2013 was 12.5% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for October 2013 was 13.1% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for September 2013 was 12.9% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for August 2013 was 13.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for July 2013 was 12.6% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for June 2013 was 13.7% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for May 2013 was 13.5%(Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for April 2013 was 13.2%(Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for March 2013 was 13.3%(Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for February 2013 was 13.8% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for January 2013 was 13.8% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for December 2012 was 14.0% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for November 2012 was 13.2% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for October 2012 was 14.3% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for September 2012 was13.4% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for August 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted)African American unemployment for July 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for June 2012 was 14.4% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for May 2012 was 13.6% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for April 2012 was 13.0% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for March 2012 was 14.0% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for February 2012 was 14.1% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for January 2012 was 13.6% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for December 2011 was to 15.8% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for November 2011 was 15.5% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for October 2011 was 15.0% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for September 2011 was 15.9% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for August 2011 was 16.7% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for July 2011 was 15.9% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for June 2011 was 16.2% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for May 2011 was 16.2% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for April 2011 was 16.1% (Seasonally adjusted) African American unemployment for May 2010 was 15.3% (Seasonally adjusted)

________By Sex African American unemployment for men 20 years and overDecember 2017 decreased to 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)

September 2017White unemploymentWhite unemployment for December 2017 remained 3.7% (Seasonally adjusted)

White unemployment for November 2017 was 3.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for October 2017 was 3.5% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for September 2017 was 3.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for August 2017 was 3.9% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for July 2017 was 3.8% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for June 2017 was 3.8% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for May 2017 was 3.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for December 2016 was 4.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for November 2016 was 4.2% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for October 2016 was 4.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for September 2016 was 4.4% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for August 2016 was 4.4% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for July 2016 was 4.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for June 2016 was 4.4% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for May 2016 was 4.1% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for April 2016 was 4.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for March 2016 was 4.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for January 2016 was 4.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for May 2015 was 4.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for April 2015 was 4.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for March 2015 was 4.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for February 2015 was 4.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for January 2015 was 4.9% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for December 2014 was 4.8% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for November 2014 was 4.9% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for October 2014 was 4.8% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for September 2014 was 5.1% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for August 2014 was 5.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for July 2014 was 5.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for June 2014 was 5.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for May 2014 was 5.4% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for January 2014 was 5.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for December 2013 was 5.9% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for November 2013 was 6.2% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for October 2013 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for September 2013 was 6.3% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for August 2013 was 6.4% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for July 2013 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for June 2013 was 6.6% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for May 2013 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for April 2013 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for March 2013 was 6.7% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for February 2013 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for January 2013 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for December 2012 was 6.9% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for November 2012 was 6.8% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for October 2012 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for September 2012 was 7.0% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for August 2012 was 7.2% (Seasonally adjusted)White unemployment for July 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for June 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for May 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for April 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for March 2012 was 7.3% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for February 2012 was 7.3% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for January 2012 was 7.4% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for December 2011 was 7.5% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for November 2011 was 7.6% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for October 2011 was 8.0% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for September 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for August 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for July 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for June 2011 was 8.1% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for May 2011 was 7.9% (Seasonally adjusted) White unemployment for May 2010 was 8.4% (Seasonally adjusted)
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By Sex White unemployment for men 20 years and overDecember 2017 increased to 3.4% (Seasonally adjusted)

Seasonally Adjusted Not Seasonally AdjustedSeasonal adjustment is a statistical method for removing the seasonal component of a time series used when analyzing non-seasonal trends. Whereas, not-seasonally-adjusted reflects the actual current data. It is normal to report not-seasonally-adjusted data for current unemployment rates. Seasonally adjusted data may be used for the longer term comparison. Total employment and unemployment vary throughout the year. For example,higher unemployment in January and February isn’t uncommon because of work in agriculture, construction and other seasonal industries slowing down. Also, both employment and unemployment rise every June, when students enter the labor force in search of summer jobs. Seasonally adjusted numbers also take into account seasonal hiring/layoff patterns that go along with winter and summer holidays.