The US added fewer jobs than expected in January, but the unemployment rate edged lower as job growth for the prior two months was revised higher.
Non-farm employment rose by 143,000 jobs in January following revised job growth of 307,000 in December and 261,000 in November, reflecting upward combined revisions of 100,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
Analysts surveyed by Trading Economics had forecast growth of 170,000 jobs for January. Monthly job gains averaged 166,000 last year following annual revisions, down from a prior 186,000 monthly average. Unemployment edged down to 4pc, the lowest since last May. Average hourly earnings grew at a 4.1pc annual pace, unchanged from December.
Manufacturing added 3,000 jobs in January, while motor vehicles and parts shed 10,000 jobs. Mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction jobs declined by 8,000, almost all in mining-support activities. Health care added 44,000 jobs in January, retail trade added 34,000 jobs and government jobs grew by 32,000.
Construction, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, leisure and hospitality and other services were little changed.
