The U.S. economy kicked off the new year with robust job gains in January. The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that employers expanded payrolls by 353,000 last month. That figure far outpaces economists’ expectations of about 175,000 new jobs.
The January jobs report also notes that employers added 126,000 more jobs than previously reported in November and December combined.
The education and health services industry saw significant payroll expansion last month, with employers adding 112,000 jobs.
The professional and businesses services industry was a leader in job creation in January as well. The BLS reports that employers in this sector added 74,000 jobs, including 3,900 in temporary help services.
Employers in the retail trade industry helped to fuel job growth last month by adding 45,200 jobs.
These industries also saw employers expanding their payrolls in January:
Government: 36,000 jobs added
Manufacturing: 23,000 jobs added
Transportation and warehousing: 15,500 jobs added
Information: 15,000 jobs added
Construction: 11,000 jobs added
Leisure and hospitality: 11,000 jobs added
Financial activities: 8,000 jobs added
The latest jobs report from the BLS shows that the national unemployment rate was 3.7% in January. That is the same rate reported in both December and November.
The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers — the professionals most highly sought-after by employers — was 2.1% last month. The rate for this group of workers has held steady since October.
