Employment Summary

Payroll employment rose by 132,000 in November, and the
unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.5 percent.
The November employment gain followed increases of 203,000
in September and 79,000 in October (as revised). Over the
month, employment rose in several service-providing
industries. Job losses continued in construction and
manufacturing.

Employment in professional and business services
continued to grow in November (43,000). Over the year, the
industry has added 426,000 jobs. Growth has occurred during
this period in a number of the component industries,
including architectural and engineering services, management
consulting services, and computer systems design.

Health care employment rose by 28,000 in November,
bringing the increase over the year to 309,000. In
November, job growth continued in hospitals and in
ambulatory health care services, which includes doctors'
offices.

Within the leisure and hospitality sector, employment
growth continued in food services and drinking places, which
added 34,000 jobs over the month and 295,000 over the year.

Construction employment fell sharply for the second
month in a row. The November decline (-29,000) was
widespread across the component industries. Since peaking
in February of this year, residential specialty trades
employment has fallen by 109,000.

Average hourly earnings for private production and
nonsupervisory workers increased 3 cents in November to
$16.94, a gain of 0.2 percent. Over the year, average
hourly earnings rose by 4.1 percent.

In summary, payroll employment rose by 132,000 in
November, and the unemployment rate was 4.5 percent.

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Professional Resumes