Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 216,000 in December. Payroll employment increased by 2.7 million in 2023, an average monthly gain of 225,000.
Wood Markets News
Canadian Employment Unchanged in December; Unemployment Steady at 5.8%
Canadian employment was little changed in December. This follows an increase of 25,000, or 0.1%, in November.
US Mortgage Payments in December Fall 14% From October’s Record High
The median US mortgage payment was $2,361 during the four-week period ending on December 31st, down 14% from October’s record high, Redfin said.
Construction Sector Job Openings Increase in November
The number of open construction jobs increased to 459,000 in November from a revised reading of 416,000 in October, the Census Bureau and NAHB reported.
Thirty-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgages Move Slightly Higher in the Week Ending January 4th
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.62%, up from last week when it averaged 6.61%, according to Freddie Mac.
ADP Reports Increased Private Sector Employment and Compensation Gains in December
Nonfarm private sector employment increased by 164,000 jobs in December and annual pay was up 5.4% year-over-year, according to ADP.
US Weekly Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending December 30th
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 202,000 during the week ending December 30th, a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week.
Private Sector Job Cuts Decline in December
US-based employers announced 34,817 job cuts in December, a 24% decline from November, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Fire Reported at Weyerhaeuser’s Plymouth, NC, Sawmill on Tuesday
On Tuesday, firefighters were called to the Weyerhaeuser sawmill in Plymouth, North Carolina, regarding a fire at the facility, WITN reported.
Small Fire Reported at Georgia Pacific’s Mount Jewett, PA, MDF Facility
On Tuesday, a fire was reported in a press area at Georgia Pacific’s MDF facility in Mount Jewett, Pennsylvania, The Bradford Era reported.