May Jobs report released by BLS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has issued its May jobs report. While 175,000 jobs were created the unemployment rate edged up slightly from 7.5% to 7.6%. The drop is largely due to additional participation in the labor force.

Job growth spurts

The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reflects strong job growth in February - 236,000, far better than estimates, and a drop in unemployment rate to 7.7%, the lowest point since December of 2008.

Job growth continues

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report is out. Unemployment creeps up, but job growth steady. Economy adds 157,000 jobs. The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised from +161,000 to +247,000, and the change for December was revised from +155,000 to +196,000.

Union decline continues in 2012

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual report on union membership:

"In 2012, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of a union--was 11.3 percent, down from 11.8 percent in 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions, at 14.4 million, also declined over the year. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million union workers."

Modest job growth continues in December

The January jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates 155,000 jobs were created in December. Unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.8%.

October jobs report

Have the jobs statistics crossed the Rubicon? Or is it just a conspiracy to help President Obama's reelection? The statistics are compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) which released its monthly report today. Unemployment dropped to 7.8% the lowest level since 2008. Although the job growth was modest (114,000) the numbers for prior months were also raised evidencing an incrementally improving jobs picture. Many on the right now claim the the BLS stats are cooked. And according to candidate Romney so is Big Bird.

Jobs, jobs, politics and lies

The jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is due out Friday. It will likely have a higher than usual effect upon the political scene. A better than expected number good for the President, and a worse than expected number better for Gov. Romney. The jobs issue is a major one for the 2012 campaign. Talking Points Memo does a good job of "truthifying" the debate.

Ruh Roh

The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes a net job creation of only 69,000, and that the unemployment rate has risen to 8.2%. Also of note the jobs numbers for March and April were revised downward.

Jobs grow in February

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued its report on February jobs creation today. The nonfarm payroll employment added a net gain of 227,000  jobs in Frebruary. The unemployment rate remained at 8.3% due to more persons reentering the workforce. December's report also was revised upward from +203,000 to +223,000, and the change for January was revised upward from +243,000 to +284,000.

Unemployment drops to 8.3%

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its January jobs report this morning, and the news is BTE. Private sector jobs grew by 257,000 but declines in public sector employment reduced the non-farm payroll employment gain to 243,000. The report also adjusted upward the gains reported for November and December 2011.

Union density static

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released its 2011 union members summary which indicates 11.8% of wage and salary workers are union members. This is down slightly from 2010's 11.9% rate. Louisiana is one of 7 states with union membership under 5%. How concentrated is union membership? Note this quote

Over half of the 14.8 million union members in the U.S. lived in just seven states (California, 2.4 million; New York, 1.9 million; Illinois, 0.9 million; Pennsylvania, 0.8 million; Michigan 0.7 million; and New Jersey and Ohio, 0.6 million each), though these states accounted for only about one-third of wage and salary employment nationally.

Louisiana job growth

Good news on state and local unemployment and job creation. The Bureau of Labor statistics (BLS) reported that the state's seasonally adjusted jobless rate dropped to 6.8% in December. Thats down from 7.7% in December 2010. The Louisiana Workforce Commission announced December marked the 15th consecutive month the state added private sector jobs. Statewide job growth in 2011 was 48,300.

Are government workers overpaid?

While some politicians argue public sector employees are overpaid, a new study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates the opposite. Conservatives challenge the BLS conclusions with a Heritage Foundation study. Progressive blog ThinkProgress counters with a Project on Government Oversight (POGO) report which criticizes the Heritage Foundation methodology.

Unemployment trends down slightly

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) October jobs report reflects unemployment slipped to 9.0% down from 9.1 the previous month. Private sector employment grew by 104,000 and government employment losses (24,000) partially offset the private sector gains

Slim job growth in September

Private sector employers added a meager 137,000 jobs in September, while the public sector continues to shed jobs according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent while the underemployment rate inched up to 16.5% (from 16.2%). Both the July and AUgust estimates were revised upward, but only slightly.

Economy up - unemployment, Dow down

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the July jobs report today. Private sector employment increased by 154,000 jobs, but that gain was partially offset by continuing loss of public sector jobs. Unemployment declined marginally to 9.1%. Dow drops 500, worst day since 2008 financial crisis.

Jobs report shows little growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has issued its May jobs/unemployment report. Little has changed from April. Unemployment 9.1%, 54,000 jobs created.

February unemployment drops to 8.9%

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly employment report notes joblessness declined to 8.9% in February, with a net job creation of 192,000 jobs despite heavy cuts in state and local government employment due to state budget shortfalls. The WaPo story is here.

Unemployment drops to 9%

An unexpectedly large drop in unemployment (9.4% to 9%) occurred in January, but only 36,000 jobs were created. Full report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is here.

Union membership declines in 2010

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides a yearly statistical summary on union membership. Last week's release of the 2010 report confirmed conventional wisdom by showing union membership declining from 12.3% of the wage and salary workers to 11.9%. Union density also fell in the private sector to 6.9% (as compared to 36.2% in the public sector. The estimated number of workers belonging to unions declined 612,000 to 14.3 million. Union membership rates declined over the year in 33 states and the District of Columbia and rose in 17 states. Union membership declined in Louisiana and Mississippi, but increased in Texas.