March 12, 2007 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Payroll employment, February 2007

In February, total payroll employment edged up by 97,000, to 137.4 million, seasonally adjusted. This followed gains of 226,000 in December and 146,000 in January (as revised).

[Chart data—TXT]

In February, employment continued to increase in health care, professional and business services, and food services. Health care employment rose by 33,000, as job growth continued throughout the component industries. Employment in professional and business services continued to trend up in February, with a gain of 29,000 jobs. Food services and drinking places added 21,000 jobs.

Construction employment declined sharply over the month. Unusually severe winter weather conditions in some areas of the country in February likely contributed to job losses in the industry. 

Manufacturing continued to lose jobs. Job losses occurred in wood products, semiconductors and electronic components, and textile mills.

These data are from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program, and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent two months are preliminary. More information can be found in "The Employment Situation: February 2007," (PDF) (TXT) news release USDL 07-0340.