Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until
USDL-10-0141
8:30 a.m. (EST) Friday, February 5, 2010
Technical information:
Household data:
(202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps
Establishment data:
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Media contact:
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THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION – JANUARY 2010
The unemployment rate fell from 10.0 to 9.7 percent in January, and nonfarm payroll employment
was essentially unchanged (-20,000), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment
fell in construction and in transportation and warehousing, while temporary help services and retail trade
added jobs.
Household Survey Data
In January, the number of unemployed persons decreased to 14.8 million, and the unemployment rate
fell by 0.3 percentage point to 9.7 percent. (See table A-1.)
Changes to The Employment Situation Text, Tables, and Data
Several changes to The Employment Situation news release text and tables are being in-
troduced with this release. In addition, establishment survey data have been revised as a
result of the annual benchmarking process and the updating of seasonal adjustment fac-
tors. Also, household survey data for January 2010 reflect updated population estimates.
See the notes on pages 4, 5, and 6 for more information about all of these changes.
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In January, unemployment rates for most major worker groups—adult men (10.0 percent), teenagers
(26.4 percent), blacks (16.5 percent), and Hispanics (12.6 percent)—showed little change. The jobless
rate for adult women fell to 7.9 percent, and the rate for whites declined to 8.7 percent. The jobless rate
for Asians was 8.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted. (See tables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)
This release includes new household survey tables with information about employment and unemploy-
ment of veterans, persons with a disability, and the foreign born. In January, the unemployment rate
of veter