US Nonfarm Payroll Increases By 151,000 in February; Unemployment Ticks Up to 4.1%

On Friday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 151,000 in February. This is similar to the 143,000 gain reported in January and the average of 168,000 jobs added over the past 12 months.

Notable growth occurred in the following sectors:

• Health care added 52,000 jobs, consistent with the 12-month average of 54,000.
• Financial activities saw a gain of 21,000 jobs, exceeding the 12-month average of 5,000.
• Transportation and warehousing added 18,000 jobs, in line with the 12-month average of 13,000.
• Social assistance employment increased by 11,000 but remained below the 12-month average of 21,000.

Federal government employment declined by 10,000.

Employment showed little change in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; information; professional and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.

Both the unemployment rate, at 4.1%, and the number of unemployed people, at 7.1 million, changed little. The unemployment rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.0–4.2% since May 2024.

Monthly Revisions

Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimate and from recalculations of seasonal factors.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for December was revised up by 16,000 (from 307,000 to 323,000), while the change for January was revised down by 18,000 (from 143,000 to 125,000). With these revisions, employment in December and January combined is 2,000 lower than previously reported.