Civic Register
| 2.4.22

U.S. Added 467K Jobs in January, Well Above Economists’ Expectations

How do you feel about the state of the job market?

What’s the story?

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Friday released its jobs report for January 2022, which found the U.S. economy added 467,000 jobs and the unemployment rate increased slightly by 0.1 percentage point to 4.0% as more people looked for work. The report exceeds the Dow Jones forecast of 150,000 jobs and a 3.9% unemployment rate.
  • With January’s gains, the U.S. economy has recovered about 87% of jobs lost since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Roughly 2.9 million jobs are left to be regained to reach the pre-pandemic employment level. The labor force participation rate was 62.2% in January, a slight increase month-over-month as the number of job-seekers increased, but still below the February 2020 level of 63.4%.

Jobs Report Sector Breakdown

  • Leisure and hospitality employment grew by 151,000 jobs in January, with gains in food services and drinking places (+108,000) and in the accommodation industry (+23,000). Since February 2020, employment in the sector is down by 1.8 million, or 10.3%.
  • Professional and business services added 86,000 jobs in January with the largest gains in temporary help services (+26,000), management and consulting services (+16,000). and computer systems design (+15,000). Employment in the sector is 511,000 higher than in February 2020, with the biggest gains in temporary help services (+185,000), computer systems design and related services (+161,000), and management and technology consulting services (+151,000).
  • Retail employment rose by 61,000 in January as notable growth occurred in general merchandise stores (+29,000), and health and personal care stores (+11,000). The sector is 61,000 jobs above its level in February 2020.
  • Transportation and warehousing added 54,000 jobs in January with gains in couriers and messengers (+21,000), and warehousing and storage (+11,000). Employment in the sector is 542,000 jobs higher than in February 2020.
  • Local government education added 29,000 jobs in January but is down 359,000 -- or 4.4% -- compared to February 2020.
  • Healthcare added 18,000 jobs in January but is down 378,000 jobs relative to February 2020.
  • Employment changed little in construction, manufacturing, information, financial activities, and other services.

Long-Term Unemployment

  • The number of Americans considered to be long-term unemployed (defined as jobless for 27 weeks or more) declined to 1.7 million in January, down from 2 million in December.
  • The number of long-term unemployed is 570,000 higher than in February 2020. Long-term unemployed account for 25.9% of the total unemployed in January.

Demographic Unemployment Information

  • Unemployment rates edged up for adult men (to 3.8% from 3.6% in December), but changed little for adult women (3.6% from 3.6% in December), and teenagers (10.9% from 10.9% in December).
  • Unemployment rates edged up slightly among whites (3.4% from 3.2% in December), but declined or changed little among blacks (6.9% from 7.1% in December), Hispanics (4.9% from 4.9% in December), and Asians (3.6% from 3.8% in December).

Revisions & Data Notes

  • Employment in December was revised up by 311,000 from +199,000 to +510,000.
  • Employment in November was revised up by 398,000 from +249,000 to +647,000.


— Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: iStock.com / Alena Kravchenko)

  • 743
    Dennis
    02/14/2022

    Commies invented the covid virus, shutdown the economy, now you want to give them credit? Did you get your free Democratic Crack Pipe made in China?

  • 34
    David
    02/12/2022

    New jobs, or employees are allowed to return to the work force after forced quarantine for a virus having a 99+% survival rate-far greater than that of the flu?!

  • 244
    Glenn
    02/11/2022

    The job market has been atrocious for middle aged white males with a college degree. They are discriminated against for being born white. They are discriminated against if they are intelligent enough to understand the medical science that the mRNA COVID 'vaccines' are harmful in the short-term and long-term, and especially if they do not want to get the forced vaccination that could cause serious illness to them in the first two weeks after vaccination and years from now when the immunological deterioration manifests in their body. Let the ignorant, indoctrinated people get vaccinated and let them suffer the deleterious effects of the mRNA vaccines and boosters. When all is said and done, the unvaccinated, with natural immunity from surviving COVID with their own immunity will probably create a demand for these immune-uncompromised people to be desirable as future, healthy employees who are also intelligent workers. The unvaccinated of today will most likely become the surviving workforce of tomorrow. It will be like future survival of the fittest and the intelligent, both desirable traits for some employers of the pre-pandemic times. Be smart...let the not so intelligent and gullible people get vaccinated and suffer the harmful consequences of the mRNA vaccines.

  • 4,184
    Charles
    02/11/2022

    Economy is moving ahead! RE: Where are workers for all the hiring positions? Many DIED DURING THE ONGOING PANDEMIC or suffer from the long term medical issues.

  • 270
    Rhonda
    02/11/2022

    I think we all know the jobs market report is a sham. New jobs are being crested. These are workers returning to jobs after Covid lockdowns. And I am happy for these workers to once again be employed. I am also happy that wages are going up, but wage increases are not compensating for inflation. The average worker will lose $5,000 to inflation. For low wage earners that equals an inability to purchase groceries, pay utility bills, and put a roof over their family. The jobs report is deceptive and the American people see through the charade.

  • 313
    Deemax
    02/10/2022

    Now if we can just have inflation level off a bit!!

  • 1,741
    Joan
    02/10/2022

    I am thrilled that the job market is improving! Biden’s plan for our country is working! Now we just have to expand Democrats numbers in Congress this year to insure a potential republican logjam is averted. McConnell has already promised to obstruct the Biden Administration at every turn, believe him! Apply the 14th Amendment to every member of Congress guilty of sedition to clear out the radicals!

  • 7,837
    MrGeer
    02/10/2022

    what sort of jobs? jobs with unions, living wages and benefits? or more Mcjobs and gigs with no job security, no benefits, and slave wages? its the ladder I'm afraid....also, our lives shouldn't be about adding market value to corporations stock portfolios. hug someone you love-its free.

  • 310
    Brian
    02/10/2022

    The government can screw everything up and the job market is no exception.

  • 130
    Wanda
    02/10/2022

    It shows people are getting back to work. We still have to get this pandemic under control so we can get more people to work. This pandemic has the school system upside down which makes it harder for parents of young children to get back to the work force.

  • 1,676
    530 East Hunt Highway
    02/10/2022

    Great news, but how many more could go back if the mandates were licted

  • 131
    DeWitt
    02/10/2022

    This report is soooo phony. ADT reported (not reported by the legacy media by the way) that over 300,000 jobs were lost at the same time. You do the math. I'm sure at some point it will be adjusted down, but you'll never hear about it.

  • 755
    Harry
    02/10/2022

    In comparison to to the Trump job gains, Women, Hispanics, Blacks and Pacific Islanders have not regained the percentages of employment previously. This is is a fragile job market that is supported by government stimulus payments and not a robust private jobs field. Energy sector is well below previous reflecting in the retreat from self-sufficiency in energy production. We are sending Russia and Middle East countries millions of dollars that should have remained in our country. This appalling state of affairs started on day one of the Biden Administration with cancelling of Keystone-XL Pipeline.Since then he has removed millions of acres from exploration potential including huge tracks of Alaska. When gov't checks stop this fragile economy will contract.

  • 2,118
    George
    02/10/2022

    More room to go and I am glad I am retired and don’t meet a job. Also that all my income is indexed.

  • 801
    TodR
    02/10/2022

    I am feeling OK with the news about economy and jobs continuing to grow, even in the shadow of the current inflationary trend. That is because I am currently employed. What I don't hear enough about is the widening economic gap between the hyper-wealthy and under-employed, disenfranchised and un-housed populations who's suffering is also in an inflationary trend. I don't feel OK about this.

  • 3,104
    Adam
    02/10/2022

    I love how every Trumpist is like, "They couldn't have created those jobs. They must be talking about jobs that already existed where people got fired for not being vaccinated" or other such nonsense. Yeah, that's not the same thing. When the economy adds jobs, it's on top of the jobs that were already available. That's what "adds" means. If you fire Mike and hire Dave, that's, um, still the same job.

  • 3,104
    Adam
    02/10/2022

    Kinda depends on the quality of said jobs, but more jobs is always better than fewer jobs.

  • 290
    Linda
    02/10/2022

    The job market is in great shape. There's more jobs now than what we have ever seen. There's good paying jobs.

  • 370
    TheToddfather
    02/10/2022

    Measuring jobs alone means little without measuring quality of pay and quality of work among other factors.

  • 515
    Carolyn
    02/10/2022

    Inflation is at 7.5%. The highest in 40 years.