February 08, 2005 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Payroll employment growth in January 2005

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 146,000 in January 2005, seasonally adjusted, following job gains averaging 181,000 per month in 2004.

[Chart data—TXT]

Over the month, there were gains in several service-providing industries including education and health services, transportation and warehousing, and financial activities.

Education and health services continued to add jobs in January, increasing by 35,000. Within the sector, health care employment rose by 15,000 over the month. Employment in educational services edged up in January.

In transportation and warehousing, employment increased by 34,000 in January. Within transportation and warehousing, employment in the couriers and messengers industry grew by 17,000 in January.

Employment in financial activities rose by 21,000 in January. Both credit intermediation and securities, commodities, and investments contributed to the gain.

These employment data come from the BLS Current Employment Statistics program.  To learn more about recent employment and unemployment trends, see "The Employment Situation: January 2005" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 05-178. Data for the most recent two months are preliminary.