Unemployment in the USA: the lowest in 8 years

Following December 2015, unemployment reached the level of 5%, and in January for the first time in 8 years it dropped below this mark. Infographics: Alexander Shatov / ForumDaily

The US unemployment rate in January fell to 4,9%, setting the lowest in the last 8 years. After 2008, this figure was always above 5%.

“This is compelling data that sends positive signals to the [US] economy,” says CNN words of Charles Schwab strategist Kathy Jones.

According to analysts, retail trade, health care and services are developing most successfully among the sectors of the American economy. The average salary increased over the last year by 2,5%.

The monthly employment report of the NFP (Non-Farm Payrolls) published on Friday by the US Department of Labor has traditionally shown how many new jobs were created in the non-agricultural sector per month.

At the same time, according to January data, 151 created a thousand jobs, which is less than in the last two months and lower than the forecasts of most economists.

As the Ministry of Labor notes, the January slowdown in employment growth is seasonal: the economy is “paying the price” for the high growth rates in November-December 2015. Overall, the US labor market remains stable.

Reduced energy prices as reported "Voice of America", allowed US consumers to save money and helped boost retail sales.

However, the fall in oil prices leads to layoffs in oil companies, as well as to a reduction in investment in the energy industry, which may slow down its growth.

ForumDaily wrote earlier that unemployment in the United States compared with 2009 in the year when it reached its peak in 10%, halved.

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