| Actual | Previous | |
| Adjusted | 2.9% | 3.0% |
| Not Adjusted | 3.2% | 3.1% |
Highlights
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent in January from 3.0 percent in December, with the number of those out of work falling to 138,451 from 139,806. The unadjusted rate rose to 3.2 from 3.1 percent the previous month.
Roughly the same number of persons were looking for jobs in January, with the rate holding steady at 4.7 percent. One sign that labor market demand is perking up is seen in the number of available jobs. These rose to 51,070 in January from 43,844 the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Among the important industries, the unemployment rate in the chemical sector rose to 3.6 percent in January from 3.5 the previous month. The rate a year ago was 2.9 percent.
The watchmaking industry which was hit hard by US tariffs saw its unemployment rate hold at 6.2 percent.
Other reports have anecdotal evidence that there has been hesitancy among companies to commit to hiring. On the positive side, the increase in the number of job vacancies could be a sign that could be loosening.
Definition
The unemployment rate measures the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labour force. Both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted monthly data are provided.
Description
Like the employment data, unemployment data help to gauge the current state as well as the future direction of the economy. Employment data are categorized by sectors. This sector data can go a long way in helping investors determine in which economic sectors they intend to invest.
By tracking the jobs data, investors can sense the degree of tightness in the job market. If employment is tight it is a good bet that interest rates will rise and bond and stock prices will fall. In contrast, when job growth is slow or negative, then interest rates are likely to decline - boosting up bond and stock prices in the process.