May 07, 2002 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Small change in payroll employment in April

Total nonfarm payroll employment, at 131.2 million, was little changed in April (+43,000).

[Chart data—TXT]

This is the third consecutive month in which payroll employment has remained essentially flat. In contrast, employment declined by an average of 144,000 a month from March 2001 to January 2002.

Construction posted a large job loss in April, while employment declines in manufacturing continued to moderate. Offsetting these declines were gains in a number of industries, notably services, transportation, and eating and drinking places.

Payroll employment data are products of the Current Employment Statistics program. Data for March and April 2002 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see The Employment Situation: April 2002, news release USDL 02-255.