The Economy Added The Most Jobs Last Year Since 1999
thinkprogress.org
by Bryce Covert  Posted on February 6, 2015 at 8:30 am Updated: February 6, 2015 at 9:06 am
The economy added 257,000 jobs in January while the unemployment rate was little changed at 5.7 percent, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Analysts had expected 230,000 jobs to be added. While the unemployment rate ticked up slightly, the labor force also increased by 703,000 people.
The biggest jobs gains were in retail (46,000), construction (39,000), health care (38,000), food service and drinking places (35,000), financial activities (26,000), and manufacturing (22,000).
Wages rose by 12 cents in January, the most month over month in six years. They increased 2.2 percent year over year.
The report also came with revisions for last year’s job numbers, adding 91,000 for March 2014 and coming to 2.1 million added last year total. That represents the best year since 1999. The economy has added at least 200,000 jobs each month for the last 12 months, something not seen since 1994-1995. |
