This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38853642
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
US firms added 227,000 jobs in January | US firms added 227,000 jobs in January |
(35 minutes later) | |
US businesses added 227,000 jobs in January, way above economists' forecasts of about 175,000. | US businesses added 227,000 jobs in January, way above economists' forecasts of about 175,000. |
The figure, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, compares with December's rise of 157,000, revised up slightly from last month's first estimate. | |
However, average pay barely rose, and the number of people working part-time but looking for full-time work rose. | |
Even so, the jobs growth suggests that new president Donald Trump has inherited a stronger jobs market. | |
He has promised to to create 25 million jobs over 10 years to become "the greatest jobs president... ever". | He has promised to to create 25 million jobs over 10 years to become "the greatest jobs president... ever". |
President Barack Obama's term from January 2009-17 saw the number of people with jobs increase by 11.25 million. | President Barack Obama's term from January 2009-17 saw the number of people with jobs increase by 11.25 million. |
'Sluggish wages' | |
The job gains in January occurred in retailing, construction, and financial activities. | |
The number of unemployed people at 7.6 million was little changed. The unemployment rate edged up slightly to 4.8% from 4.7% in December, but this was due to more people looking for work. | |
The percentage of adults working or looking for jobs increased to its highest level since September. | |
Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at Allianz, in California, said: "Continued strong job creation is tempered by the renewed sluggishness in wage growth, raising questions once again about the extent to which the functioning of the labour market has evolved. | |
"The sluggish wage growth will make the [Federal Reserve] more cautious about hiking [interest rates] in March," he said. | |
As a US presidential candidate, Mr Trump frequently argued that the government's jobs data exaggerated the health of the economy. | |
He called the unemployment rate a "hoax'' and said it declined after the recession under Barack Obama mainly because many Americans stopped working or looking for work. |
Previous version
1
Next version