Total nonfarm employment in the United States grew by 88,000 jobs in March 2013 while the unemployment rate dipped to 7.6 percent and the number of unemployed people dropped to 11.7 million, according to ‘THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION — MARCH 2013’ released today by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The March 2013 employment report also revised the change in employment for January 2013 from 119,000 jobs added up to 148,000 jobs while the change for February 2013 was revised from 236,000 jobs added up to 268,000 jobs. Employment growth has averaged 169,000 jobs per month over the prior 12 months.
As for specific industries, the report found employment increased in professional and business services and in health care in March 2013, while retail trade employment declined during the month.
Professional and business services added 51,000 jobs in March 2013. Over the past 12 months, employment in this industry has grown by 533,000 jobs.
Health care gained 23,000 jobs in March 2013, similar to the prior 12-month average. Within health care, ambulatory health care services such as home health care increased by 15,000 jobs.
Construction employment added 18,000 jobs in March 2013, and the industry has added 169,000 jobs overall since September 2012.
Leisure and hospitality employment in food services and drinking places gained 13,000 jobs in March 2013 and the industry has added 262,000 jobs over the past year.
On the negative side, retail trade employment declined by 24,000 jobs in March 2013, with clothing accessories stores losing 15,000 jobs and building material and garden supply stores losing 10,000 jobs. The industry had added an average of 32,000 jobs per month over the prior 6 months.
Government employment in the U.S. Postal Service also fell by 12,000 jobs in March 2013.
Employment in other major industries including mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, state government, and local government showed little change in March 2013.
Until the Employment Situation for April 2013 is released on Friday, May 3, 2013, the Employment Situation for March 2013 will be available at www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf.
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