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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

BLS: Unemployment Was 8.9 percent in February, Economy Adds 192,000 Jobs

03/04/2011
The national unemployment rate changed little, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' February employment situation report. The unemployment rate measured 8.9 percent for the month, and 192,000 jobs were created. Sectors spanning manufacturing, business services, and healthcare all added employees.

From the most recent employment low in February 2010, total payroll employment has risen by 1.3 million jobs. In February 2011, the manufacturing sector created 33,000 new positions. Durable goods producers added nearly all of those jobs. Since manufacturing's most recent employment low point in December 2009, the industry has created 195,000 jobs. During this same time, the durable goods sector has created 233,000 jobs.

There were 6 million long-term unemployed persons in February, who have been out of work for at least 27 weeks. They account for 43.9 percent of the unemployed. Discouraged workers, or those who have stopped looking for work because they believe no jobs are available for them, numbered 1 million in February. This figure has decreased by 184,000 from last year.

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