WASHINGTON: The unemployment rate in
the US remained unchanged at 9.7 per cent in February, which is lower than
expected, indicating that the labour market is slowly stabilising.
Last month, the economy saw the loss of 36,000 jobs. The
unemployment rate was anticipated to climb to 9.8 per cent, mainly on account of
snowstorms that disrupted economic activities in many parts of the country in
February.
"Non-farm payroll employment was little changed (-36,000)
in February, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 per cent," the US Bureau of
Labor Statistics said today.
In January also, the jobless rate was
at 9.7 per cent. The payroll employment has slumped by a staggering 8.4 million
since December 2007, when the American economy officially slipped into
recession.
The number of unemployed persons stood at 14.9 million in
February.
Last month, employment declined in construction and
information, while temporary help services added jobs.
"Severe
winter weather in parts of the country may have affected payroll employment and
hours; however, it is not possible to quantify precisely the net impact of the
winter storms on these measures," the Bureau said in a statement.
Among the major worker groups, the jobless rate touched ten per cent
for adult men, adult women (8 per cent), whites (8.8 per cent), blacks (15.8 per
cent) and Hispanics (12.4 per cent).
|
