January U.S. jobs growth stronger than expected
The U.S. added 243,000 jobs in January as the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
According to MarketWatch, “The increase in hiring was the biggest since last April and supplies further evidence that the economy continues to strengthen after a slowdown last summer. The U.S. has added an average of 183,000 jobs a month in the past five months.”
Also, it noted, “Hiring has also become more broad based. Jobs were added last month in manufacturing and construction, professional services, retail, health care and food and restaurant establishments.”
The gain, it added, easily surpassed Wall Street forecasts. Surveyed economists expected an additional 121,000 jobs and an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent.
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© 2012 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
100 comments Add your comment
LawDawg
February 3rd, 2012
9:29 am
Something something no credit to Obama…something something socialist.
Frank Furter
February 3rd, 2012
9:32 am
Lets see what the future brings!
http://www.notquitedevils.com
Ernest T. Bass
February 3rd, 2012
9:33 am
Id like to follow that up by saying…
Something something Kenyan ….. Something something Fox News said …… something something long form birth certificate …. something something something.
Larry
February 3rd, 2012
9:35 am
Patent nonsense. Even the CBO admits the true jobless rate is at about 10%. This is just disinformation in the hopefully futile attempt to get Obama reelected. The only industry to have net job gains since Obama took office is the Federal Government. What do they produce? Oh yeah, nothing but paper.
Mike
February 3rd, 2012
9:42 am
How about mentioning that the unemployment rate was reduced primarily through people leaving the workforce. How about reporting on the types of jobs that were actually created? Are they equal to the jobs that were lost through the downturn in terms of pay and benefits? Or are they part-time or otherwise inferior jobs? It’s sad that the media grabs the headline number then does absolutely no digging to see what the number means.
N2thaIzzo
February 3rd, 2012
9:43 am
I love it when people claim that the media wants 1 party to win, so they “alter” the news. NO… you choose to look at the news and interpret it how YOU want to. No one had an issue when the reporting when the jobless rate was 9.9%, now all of a sudden, they are reporting it wrong? GTFOH…
ATLJacket
February 3rd, 2012
9:48 am
@Larry
You are actually incorrect. The federal government has been shedding jobs which is actually hurting the total number of jobs gained in a period. This is a little dated but it illustrates my point: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2011/07/08/public-sector-job-cuts-threaten-recovery
DannyX
February 3rd, 2012
9:52 am
The 243,000 jobs added is a conspiracy, the real number is -500,000.
The Dow Jones is not really up to almost 13,000 its also a conspiracy, the real number is 4,000.
Its a conspiracy. Be paranoid people, be very paranoid.
Big Brother
February 3rd, 2012
9:54 am
Interesting data. Guess they didn’t include these firing American Airlines say they are firing 13,000, Pepsi is firing 4000 workers, Boeing is firing 2300 workers and closing plants, Bank of America is firing 30,000 to 40,000 workers , Cisco is firing 11,500 worker, Sears is closing 120 stores and firing 10s of thousands , Lowes is closing 20 store and firing 2000 ,Goldman Sachs is firing over 1000 top executives and USPS is firing a massive 260,000 workers or facing bankruptcy in early 2012 and Citi Group say the firing workers after earnings misses.
Thomas
February 3rd, 2012
9:58 am
Read the comprehensive report on CNN. The AJC only prints watered down versions commensurate with the educational level of metro Atlanta. Unemployed nationwide over 12million / underemployed
without full time or only part time jobs 11 million . Real unemployment rate 15.1% of adults over 18 years old.
Pending elimination of 14,000 American Airlines workers with their jobs being shipped overseas, elimination of 200,000 postal jobs in 5/2012/, elimination of 100,000 teacher jobs nationwide 5/2012
Dont start cheering yet. Thank you US government 22% of all American workers now employed by Government jobs which are based on tax and spend policies with 10,000,000 manufacturing jobs now gone to China. Welcome the continued demise of the US into a China colony.They took us without firing a shot!!
LawDawg
February 3rd, 2012
10:09 am
Big Brother: That makes a lot of sense. Since you listed the only 10 businesses that exist in the entire country, these numbers must be lies.
Also, you completely made most of that up. GS doesn’t even have 1000 “top executives”, much less is it firing 1000.
DannyX
February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am
From the “comprehensive jobs report,”
• Retail: +19,000
• Constructon: +21,000
• Transportation & warehousing:
• Leisure and hospitality: +44,000
• Mining: +10,000
• Professional & business services +70,000
• Health care: +31,000
• Manufacturing: +50,000
• Government employment: -14,000
Government employment down yet again! I thought that is what conservatives wanted.
LawDawg
February 3rd, 2012
10:10 am
Thomas = Big Brother = inventing statistics.
LawDawg
February 3rd, 2012
10:11 am
DannyX: Don’t use real numbers! We should make up numbers that FEEL correct.
The country has 99.9% unemployment. I am the last employed worker. That feels true. Right, Big Thomas?
joe
February 3rd, 2012
10:13 am
How much did Obama spend to get a drop in unemployment by 0.5%? Wasn’t it something like 1 trillion this year? Yea, seems he is a very wise spender…NOT. Just wait til we have to pay $4+ per gallon in a few months time…his approval rating is toast and so is he come Nov, no matter who runs against him.
waterstim
February 3rd, 2012
10:24 am
1.2 Million people left the workforce In January, people, hence the 8.3% rate. That’s it. It takes a monthly gain of 200,000 jobs just to keep up with the demographics of growing the economy….and yet the market zooms. What a bunch of lying crooks.
Tom
February 3rd, 2012
10:26 am
1.2 million people fell out of the employment market, the biggest drop ever. Workforce participation rate drops to lowest level ever at 63.7%.
http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user5/imageroot/2012/01/People%20Not%20In%20Labor%20Force.jpg
Why is this not being reported? You make the call.
Time to change back
February 3rd, 2012
10:37 am
WOW, I’m not impressed. There are so many people who have stopped looking for work and are now on forced retirement or welfare. Just a joke. And while they are doing jumping jacks on the unemployment numbers, gas has jumped to 3.49 per gallon, milk, eggs, bread and groceries as a whole have increased 50%. Utility costs have soared and continue to rise, all the time Obama is giving Millions to solar companies who are turning around, spending the money on bonus and then filing chapter 11. I am not impressed. Not one bit.
Mary
February 3rd, 2012
10:37 am
I want to know where these jobs are. In the northeast?, Out west? where? We need jobs here in Atlanta, and those are the ones I need to know about.
True Republican
February 3rd, 2012
10:41 am
Yeah, right. Like I’m going to believe anything from the lamestream mainstream MSM media. They are totally in the tank for B. Rock “The Islamic Shock” Superallah Fartbama. This is just more agitating agitprop propaganda.
Mike Hunt
February 3rd, 2012
10:43 am
Wow, this is great news! What great leadership on behalf of the Obama administration! Oh my, if it wasn’t for the great ideas of the dems this would have never happened…spend trillions of dollars to get unemployment down near 8%…keep up the great work! (Sarcasm)
Big Brother
February 3rd, 2012
10:43 am
I guess since it’s not executives that is really important. From the left wing media you tree hungers love so much:
Goldman plans to cut about 1,000 jobs across the firm by year-end, part of a plan to reduce costs by $1.2 billion. That would represent about 3 percent of Goldman’s overall staff.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/19/goldman-sachs-reacts-to-poor-quarter-layoffs_n_903791.html
gmoney
February 3rd, 2012
10:43 am
My wife just got a job after 2.5 years on the unemployment rolls. But since she started yesterday I guess that won’t count until next months number.
Oblama
February 3rd, 2012
10:44 am
According to ALL the college Finance courses full employment is considered to be 4.25%, therefore we are still more than double what the normal unemployment rate should be. There are fluctuations from month to month based on seasonal changes, etc. Tell it to the MILLIONS still out of work. Just look around at all the Pawn Shops and Gold Buying Stores and you will know the TRUTH. We are still in the worst recession of our life time (last 60 years). This is even worse than when Jammy Coddur was in the White House with his 20+ % mortgage rates and his socialist agenda.
Ernest T. Bass
February 3rd, 2012
10:49 am
We are still in the worst recession of our life
Right. That started under Bush.
Most conveniently forget that the economy was in free fall when Obama took over.
Its taken him a few years but we are finally back on track.
Thanks Obama !!! Cant wait for the next four years !!!!
GApeach
February 3rd, 2012
10:51 am
@Mike Hunt haha your post cracked me up. I was reading it in a sarcastic tone even before I got to the end. Thanks for the laugh. (:
True Republican
February 3rd, 2012
10:51 am
@DannyX
Those numbers are a TRICK! Obongo is using his secret Kenyan Muslim socialist voodoo powers to work the numbers. Is there no end to his evil games and schemes?!
GApeach
February 3rd, 2012
10:52 am
@Ernest T. Bass I really hope you are joking.
Zuri
February 3rd, 2012
10:54 am
Enter your comments here
rojer
February 3rd, 2012
10:55 am
Regardless of the methodology (and it is likely that the rate as calculated undercounts actual unemployment), so long as it is calculated consistently, then it is further evidence that the percentage of unemployed is DECREASING!
This is not a political discussion, but a economic and statistical one. So shut up about the politics.
More importantly, as I turned out of my kids day care, a large truck with a piece of a crane was unloading. A office tower three blocks away is going up and there do seem to be some guys working on that building. You can keep your eyes and ears closed if you want, but the economy is coming back. If youre smart, you will stop bitching and go make an investment.
steve
February 3rd, 2012
11:04 am
1.2 million people fell out of the labor force… yeah a real recovery.
Hadenough
February 3rd, 2012
11:20 am
How can anyone believe the numbers put out by this Obama Labor Department? In the statistics they list that 1.2 MILLION unemployed people DROPPED OUT of the labor force in JUST ONE MONTH. This is pure bull! How can anyone believe this? Would you admit to any government official that you are not looking for work and risk losing your unemployment benefits. No one I know would admit that!!!
Senor Coughee
February 3rd, 2012
11:20 am
Your article failed to mention 1.2 million people left the workforce, and therefore, removed from the unemployment calculation. With that in mind, yes, statistically the unemployment rate declined. The reality of the unemployment is a whole other issue. At the current rate of people “dropping” out of the workforce, we’re sure to get the unemployment rate to 0% by November.
A. E.
February 3rd, 2012
11:21 am
So..lets see if the CONSERVATIVE RACIST HYPOCRIT PRICKS give PRESIDENT Obama credit…
Kalif
February 3rd, 2012
11:24 am
The rate would drop another 2-3% overnight if the government would stop extending unemployment benefits – what is it now, something like 99 weeks. At this point, with the economy cooking and employers hiring with both hands, the only people still among the “long term unemployed” are the ones who prefer the weekly welfare checks to work.
Senor Coughee
February 3rd, 2012
11:24 am
Well said, AE. Very intelligent and thought out. Your mamma would be proud.
DannyX
February 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
“How can anyone believe the numbers put out by this Obama Labor Department?”
Tell that to the people investing in the stock market. Stocks are soaring today, approaching a 4 year high. The Dow will soon hit 13,000, it has doubled during Obama’s 3 years in office.
Zuri
February 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
While you people are trying to blame Obama for everything. Rewind back to the 8 years when dumb ass clueless looking Bush was in office. That is where it all begin. Considering with what was handed to Obama and the fact that the republicans are not working with him.Trying everything in their power to work against him. I think that he is doing alright. What will probably happen is that if the republicans get in. The economy crisis would had ran its course and then the republicans will act as if they have fixed everything.
Senor Coughee
February 3rd, 2012
11:26 am
Kalif…those you’re referring are the Democrat’s base electorate….
Michelle
February 3rd, 2012
11:34 am
All I can say is…..BS! Whatever……my husband has been working two piddly part time minimum wage jobs for 4 years now and just got his hours cut down to 2 days a week because the businesses are not doing well. This has happened so many times, at so many companies in the last year alone! He got 5 W-2’s this year! Does this mean the economy is improving? BS! It’s all political spin.
BPJ
February 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
Why do conservatives hate America?
They actually get upset when there is good economic news, as it might endanger the Republican nominee’s chances in November.
Thank you, Danny X (at 10:10) for those numbers. One of the underreported stories of the last two years is that the big drop in employment has been in STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, as the Recovery Act’s aid to state and local governments ended. Fewer infrastructure projects, less employment of construction/transportation workers, thanks to Republican obstruction. Take out the drop in state and local employment levels, and the private sector numbers look pretty good. But those who get their worldview from FauxNews can’t acknowledge this.
Raul Rodriguez
February 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
I AGREE MICHELLE, WHAT ABOUT THE UNDER-EMPLOYED!!! THIS PRESIDENT AND HIS CROONIES ARE A JOKE. C’MON PEOPLE STOP DRINKING THE OBAMA KOOL-AID.
Joseph
February 3rd, 2012
11:40 am
The CBO report says the unemployment rate is really around 10% and that GDP will be anemic for all of 2012. Why this is completely ignored???? Cooking the books will not get Obama re-elected when the majority of Americans will still be suffering from his failed policies come Election Day.
why????
February 3rd, 2012
11:41 am
Interesting. When Unemployment was rising, the stats nor logic were EVER questioned. Now that it is beginning to drop “the numbers, logic and validity are just all wrong”…go figure…bunch of whiners and losers. Just pathetic…
GIVE ME A BREAK
February 3rd, 2012
11:49 am
All the naysayers, gloom and doom posters, are you employed and were you laid off during this administration? Do I believe the numbers 100%, hell no!! The difference is, I didn’t believe Reagan,
Bush 1, Clinton and sohell didn’t believe Bush 2. They all play with the data.
I tell you what, if the numbers are 7.5 or lower on Oct 1st, it’s a wrap, you’re going to have four more years to bitch and moan.
joeybiten
February 3rd, 2012
11:51 am
a typical article that does not give the complete story….
TBone
February 3rd, 2012
11:51 am
Honey badger don’t care; honey badger don’t give a sh*t.
Mark in mid-town
February 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
The net number of good jobs is a decent number and better than population growth which is good. The drop in unemployment rate to 8.3% seems to be a manipulated number based on massive amounts of additional people dropping out of the work-force. If the job market is truly improving, then the work-force participation rate should be increasing, not decreasing. But an increasing workforce participation rate would result in unemployment rate not decreasing, and possibly increasing.
Big Brother
February 3rd, 2012
12:07 pm
“Tell that to the people investing in the stock market. Stocks are soaring today, approaching a 4 year high. The Dow will soon hit 13,000, it has doubled during Obama’s 3 years in office.”
It’s called a jobless recovery.
DandT
February 3rd, 2012
12:10 pm
Conservatives are just a pathetic and ignorant bunch. Republicans haven’t done not one single thing to help America in anyway because all of them were too busy to say no to President Obama and planning antics to keep America in Peril to make him look bad nothing was done to help U.S. Citizens. Just bunch of cry babies, hate mongers and uneducated fools with money.
I think first all Republicans should go back to school and learn the fundamentals like how old you have to be to vote, the different branches of government, about our relationships with other countries and where we have embassies and where not especially with countries where we haven’t had some for 30 years. Then maybe we can have a conversation.