March 2019 brought approximately 196,000 new jobs created, and the national unemployment rate remained at 3.8 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This was reassuring after February’s low gain of 33,000 jobs. Employment increased in health care and professional and technical services.
Hiring in seasonal industries such as construction and food service bounced back in March. However, retail jobs took a hit for the second month, and auto manufacturers shed workers. Temp jobs dropped again. These are often connected to the fortunes of manufacturers, and exports may be slowing. Overall, the BLS expects total employment to increase by 20.5 million jobs between 2010 and 2020. While 88% of all occupations will experience growth, the fastest growth will occur in healthcare, personal care and social assistance, and construction. The BLS assumes that the economy will fully recover from the recession by 2020 and that the labor force will return to full employment or an unemployment rate of 4 to 5%. The most significant growth, forecasted at 5.7 million jobs, will occur in healthcare and other forms of social assistance as the American population ages.
2.1 million jobs will occur in professional and technical occupations, this is the next most substantial increase. The majority of this is in computer systems design, especially mobile technologies and management, scientific, and technical consulting.
Other substantial increases will likely occur in education, predicted to be 1.8 million jobs; retail, 1.7 million jobs; and hotel/restaurants, 1 million jobs. Another area is miscellaneous services at 1.6 million jobs. That includes human resources, seasonal and temporary workers, and waste collection.
As housing recovers, construction will add 1.8 million jobs while other areas of manufacturing will lose jobs due to technology and outsourcing.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released its annual interactive state unemployment rates map. The BLS data visualizations will help you see important trends in the labor market and economy more clearly.
See the BLS interactive map here: https://www.bls.gov/charts/state-employment-and-unemployment/state-unemployment-rates-map.htm#
Here is their state unemployment rates table:
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