March 13, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Unemployment rate in February 2007

In February, the number of unemployed persons (6.9 million) and the unemployment rate (4.5 percent) were essentially unchanged.

[Chart data—TXT]

The jobless rate has remained within a narrow range—4.4 to 4.6 percent—since September 2006.

The unemployment rate for Hispanics (5.2 percent) edged down in February. The rates for the other major worker groups—adult men (4.1 percent), adult women (3.8 percent), teenagers (14.9 percent), whites (4.0 percent), and blacks (7.9 percent)—showed little or no change. 

These data are from the Current Population Survey program and are seasonally adjusted. More information can be found in "The Employment Situation: February 2007," (PDF) (TXT) news release USDL 07-0340.

Related TED article:

• Payroll employment, February 2007