U.S. jobless rate decreases slightly in January

The unemployment rate in the U.S. dropped a tenth of a point in January, to 6.6 percent compared to 6.7 percent in December.

Nonfarm employers added 113,000 jobs in January, with growth recorded in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade and mining industries, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release. That number fell below analysts' predictions of 180,000, according to the New York Times.

The construction industry added 48,000 jobs during the month, led by job gains in residential and nonresidential building, 13,000 and 8,000, respectively. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors also added 13,000 positions, and heavy and civil engineering construction contributed 10,000 jobs.

Manufacturers added 21,000 jobs in January, with jobs gains in machinery, 7,000; wood products, 5,000; and motor vehicles and parts, 5,000, the release said.

In the wholesale trade industry, employers hired 14,000 additional workers, with most of that increase on nondurable goods, 10,000.

The mining industry contributed 7,000 jobs last month, according to the BLS.

Conversely, retail trade dropped 13,000 positions and federal government employment fell by 12,000, largely due to 9,000 job losses from the U.S. Postal Service, the release said.

The number of unemployed nationwide, roughly 10.2 million, was largely unchanged in January,[[In-content Ad]]