Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Dec 08 2017

U.S. Payrolls Exhibit Steady Growth; Jobless Rate Declines & Wages Inch Higher

Summary

The labor market remained on a firm footing last month. Nonfarm payrolls increased 228,000 (1.4% y/y) during November following a 244,000 October increase. Together these two figures were revised up by 3,000. A 198,000 increase in [...]


The labor market remained on a firm footing last month. Nonfarm payrolls increased 228,000 (1.4% y/y) during November following a 244,000 October increase. Together these two figures were revised up by 3,000. A 198,000 increase in payrolls had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, as expected. The overall unemployment rate, including the marginally-attached and those working part-time for economic reasons, ticked higher to 8.0% from 7.9%, but remained down versus 9.3% one year earlier. Average hourly earnings increased 0.2% (2.5% y/y) after falling 0.1% in October. A 0.3% gain had been expected.

The labor market data are contained in Haver's USECON database. Detailed figures are in the EMPL and LABOR databases. The expectations figure is in the AS1REPNA database.

Employment: (SA, M/M Change, 000s) Nov Oct Sep Nov Y/Y 2016 2015 2014
Payroll Employment 228 244 38 1.4% 1.7% 2.1% 1.9%
 Previous Estimate -- 261 18 -- -- -- --
  Manufacturing 31 23 9 1.5 0.1 1.2 1.4
  Construction 24 10 13 2.8 3.9 5.0 5.0
  Private Service-Producing 159 213 24 1.6 2.1 2.4 2.1
  Government 7 -3 -12 0.1 0.9 0.7 0.1
Average Weekly Hours - Private Sector 34.5 34.4 34.4 34.3 34.4 34.5 34.5
Private Sector Average Hourly Earnings (%) 0.2 -0.1 0.4 2.5 2.5 2.1 2.3
Unemployment Rate (%) 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.6 4.8 5.3 6.2
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

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