More than 467,000 jobs were created in January, according to the newest Department of Labor report, underlining the country’s continuing economic recovery.
Employment and economic analysts say the new numbers are particularly impressive given the more lethargic December numbers, which recorded only a 199,000-job gain.
In a statement, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said the latest figures indicate that there has been an overall increase of 6.6 million jobs since early 2021. That, he continued, is “an average of 541,000 new jobs per month over the last three months.”
“The progress comes on the heels of historic job losses at the start of the pandemic,” notes the New York Times, “and the recovery remains incomplete.”
The paper added that the new job numbers were a welcome relief to the White House, giving President Biden a “chance to try and turn around an economic narrative that has focused largely on negatives: soaring inflation and dour consumer sentiment.”
The numbers appear to be particularly impressive given the lingering existence of Covid-19, said the Wall Street Journal: “Overall, the robust gains this winter signal that hiring demand continued to be high as Delta and Omicron cases surged.”
Despite the national trend, the construction industry in January saw a decline of 5,000 jobs. Looking at the latest statistics, Ken Simonson, chief economist with the Associated General Contractors of America, noted: “Contractors are struggling to fill positions as potential workers opt out of the labor market or choose other industries.”
In a statement, Simonson continued: “In addition, soaring materials costs and unpredictable delivery times are delaying projects and holding back employment gains.”
By Garry Boulard
