Jobs Growth

It refers to an increase in the labor force over a certain period.

Author: Sethuraman R
Sethuraman R
Sethuraman R
Hello, I'm Sethuraman from Munnar. I hold a B.com (Computer Applications) from PSG College of Arts and Science and am currently pursuing an MBA in Finance and Data Analytics at Kumaraguru College of Technology - Business School. Fluent in English and Tamil, I actively participated in university activities, including volunteering. I recently interned at "Wall Street Oasis," gaining practical exposure in finance, SEO, content writing, and research. Known for a positive attitude and sense of humor, I've set my sights on a challenging yet rewarding career in finance, driven by a strong sense of achievement and continuous self-improvement.
Reviewed By: Josh Pupkin
Josh Pupkin
Josh Pupkin
Private Equity | Investment Banking

Josh has extensive experience private equity, business development, and investment banking. Josh started his career working as an investment banking analyst for Barclays before transitioning to a private equity role Neuberger Berman. Currently, Josh is an Associate in the Strategic Finance Group of Accordion Partners, a management consulting firm which advises on, executes, and implements value creation initiatives and 100 day plans for Private Equity-backed companies and their financial sponsors.

Josh graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and is currently an MBA candidate at Duke University Fuqua School of Business with a concentration in Corporate Strategy.

Last Updated:December 27, 2023

What Is Jobs Growth?

Jobs growth refers to an increase in the labor force over a certain period. The United States Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) publishes and measures this labor force growth. To measure jobs growth, the BLS counts the new nonfarm payroll jobs added each month.

The BLS outlines the employment situation through a widely read data publication called the monthly employment report.

The monthly employment report includes important labor market indicators, like the unemployment rate, changes in nonfarm payroll employment, average hourly wage, rate of Labour Force Participation, and the total number of unemployed people.

The BLS assesses how recent events could affect employment estimates.

Additionally, it offers details on the average weekly hours worked by private nonfarm workers for a particular month.

Jobs like the number of full-time and part-time, layoff classified as the number of persons temporarily & long-term unemployed individuals, and the labor force participation rate will be added as the information in it.

All information in the employment situation summary accurately shows the employment and jobs growth situation in the U.S.

The summary provides insights into where the majority of the jobs growth occurred, where jobs are being lost, and where unemployment comes from. A demographic breakdown of unemployment is also given, including breakdowns by age, sex, and race.

Key Takeaways

  • The term "jobs growth" refers to producing and adding new employment.
  • The monthly change in nonfarm payrolls provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics calculates jobs growth.
  • Specifically, the number of jobs in the economy that are not agriculture is measured as the change in nonfarm payroll jobs.
  • The steady-state job growth rate, consistent with the progressive expansion of the labor force, is an increase of 209000 to 336000 non-farm payrolls each month. It is a crucial indicator of economic health.

How is Jobs Growth Measured?

The CPS survey data is an accurate representation of the complete non-institutional civilian population over the age of 16 and is based on a sample that was chosen at random.

The CES survey collects data from all three tiers of government (federal, state, and municipal), as well as non-farm commercial companies, including shops and offices.

Note

The two surveys of the Bureau of Labour Statistics are the Current Population Surveys (CPS) and the Current Employment Statistics (CES).

The cyclical nature of farming and agricultural companies also prevents farm and agricultural job statistics from being included in the data.

Yet, besides self-employed individuals operating unincorporated firms, the CPS poll covers agrarian employees.

Workers are not twice counted in the CPS survey, although they would be in the CES survey if they held numerous jobs and were on various payrolls. Another significant distinction between the two surveys.

Based on the establishment's primary activity, the industry data presented in the employment status summary are categorized following the North American Industry Classification System (2022).

What is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics?

The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labour Statistics division is also called the country's leading fact-finding organization.

The Bureau of Labour Statistics, commissioned by William W. Beach, tracks price changes, American economic productivity, labor market activity, and working conditions.

The ideals of the bureau center are truth, transparency, accuracy, respect, and pursuing innovation. Two thousand four hundred people work there, and around half are statisticians and economists. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) assumes numerous surveys and programs, collecting information from individuals, companies, and government agencies to accomplish this. Below are some of the tools and metrics the BLS tracks and publishes.

Employment and Unemployment

To assess the employment condition of the civilian noninstitutional population in the U.S., the BLS conducts the Current Population Survey (CPS). CPS uses data on the number of employed, unemployed, and labor force participation rates to determine the unemployment rate.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

CPI is calculated and published by BLS, where urban consumers regularly purchase several goods and services will be measured by CPI. Government benefits, pensions, and salaries are routinely adjusted using the CPI as a key inflation indicator.

Producer Price Index (PPI)

This index indicates the change in price manufacturers, farmers, and other producers of products and services pay tracked by BLS. The PPI is useful for keeping track of producer-level inflationary pressures.

Occupational and Industry Employment Data 

It is useful for employers, job seekers, and policymakers. Also monitors employment trends, pinpoints professions with the fastest growth, and gauges the need for labor across various industries.

The principal source of occupational and industry employment statistics in the United States is the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS).

Employee Compensation Data

The Occupational Employment and Pay Statistics (OEWS) program generates employment and pays estimates yearly for around 830 jobs, one of the employment reports the BLS releases. The OEWS program also generates nationwide occupational estimates for several industries.

Financial compensation and benefits given to employees in exchange for their work are the employee data, which is employee compensation data. Understanding and evaluating workers' economic well-being and labor market conditions and making informed business and policy choices is crucial.

Workplace Safety and Health Data 

The Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) compiles work-related illnesses and accident data through the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). The CFOI counts all fatal workplace accidents in the United States.

The CFOI gathers information on each fatality's circumstances and the worker's profession and industry.

Productivity Data

The BLS monitors labor productivity, or the amount of work produced per hour, to evaluate economic development and efficiency. The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics offers trustworthy data and insights for corporations, economists, policymakers, researchers, and journalists.

Jobs Growth and Monetary Policy

The Federal Reserve System oversees monetary policy in the United States. Maximizing employment is one of the Federal Reserve System's five goals.

The Federal Reserve System may use an expansionary monetary policy plan if the federal government's data paint a bleak image of job growth and employment in the United States.

Boosting the money supply and lowering the federal fund's target rate are the Federal Open Markets Committee's open market actions.

The distinction between Jobs growth and Monetary Policy is

Distinction between Jobs growth and Monetary Policy
Jobs growth Monetary Policy
Net growth in job possibilities inside a given economy over time. Interest rates and the money supply are regulated to promote economic growth, manage inflation, and advance employment objectives.
They were influenced by business and investor optimism, governmental initiatives, and monetary circumstances. Modifying reserve requirements, open market transactions, and interest rates (buying and selling government securities).
A growing economy frequently creates additional work possibilities. Business hiring and investment decisions are influenced by monetary policy. Lowering interest rates and expanding the money supply can promote economic expansion and employment growth. While raising interest rates and shrinking the money supply might reduce inflation, they can also divert economic development and cause job losses.
Encouraging sound job growth for a robust economy. Creating jobs and succeeding with steady pricing and sustainable development is more manageable.
Inflation-controlling economic measures may also influence employment creation. Balancing the goals of encouraging economic development and reducing inflation.
Government policies, business and investment confidence, and economic growth. Labor force participation, wage growth, and general economic circumstances.

Job Growth's Investment Impact — Employment Situation Summary

Investment choices that consider jobs growth do so by examining employment statistics to learn more about the overall economic climate.

The Employment Situation Summary, a comprehensive indicator of US employment and one of the first economic data for a given month, frequently influences financial markets.

The establishment survey assesses average weekly hours worked, a measure of labor demand, average hourly wages, an early signal of labor cost inflation, and non-farm payrolls.

Because the data is so important to investors and policymakers, traders compare the statistics to analyst consensus projections to obtain an early idea of whether, for example, non-farm payroll increases in the most recent month exceeded or underperformed market expectations.

Here, we were going to learn more about how to use Jobs growth in Investment with the help of an Employment situation summary,

  1. The First Economic Snapshot: The Employment Situation Summary is like taking a snapshot of the job world in the US at the start of each month. It tells us how many people work, how much they get paid, and if new job opportunities exist.
  2. Important for Markets: This report is like big news for the financial world. It's important to influence how stock markets, where companies' shares are traded, move. That's because it shows us how well the economy is doing, affecting companies' performance.
  3. The Pieces of the Puzzle: The report has a few parts, like puzzle pieces. One piece shows how many hours people work each week, which hints at how much businesses need workers. Another piece shows how much people earn for their work, which can hint if prices might increase.
  4. Non-farm Payrolls: This is like counting how many workers there are in everything except farms. It's important because it shows how many jobs were created or lost. People who analyze this number can tell if the job market is improving.
  5. Analyzing projections: Analysts say this is a guessing game. Experts make predictions about the data before the report is released. Investors compare the actual data to these educated estimations before investing in various ventures to increase their returns. The economy and investments benefit if the true statistics are better than the estimates.
  6. Market Expectations: The stock market may fluctuate if the quantity of new employment produced (or lost) differs from anticipated. If more work is generated than expected, this may indicate that business conditions are favorable and that stock prices will rise.

The Employment Situation Summary is like a unique report card for jobs that helps us understand how the job market is doing. Investors and experts watch it closely to figure out how the economy might perform in the future.

So, when you hear about "jobs growth" in investments, remember it's like peeking at how many people are working and how that affects the financial world.

Summary

Jobs growth is measured by the number of employees added to nonfarm payrolls every month, which is reported by the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS). The BLS of the United States measures this expansion through a monthly analysis of new nonfarm payroll jobs.

The Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Current Employment Statistics (CES) are those surveys collected by the BLS. The BLS provides this data in its widely read monthly employment report.

It includes critical labor market statistics such as unemployment, changes in nonfarm payroll employment, average hourly salaries, labor force participation rate, and the overall number of jobless people.

The BLS also looks at outside variables affecting employment projections. Information on typical weekly work hours and different occupational types is also given.

The Employment Situation Summary gives a complete summary of employment and job development in the US.

The BLS, which offers data on employment, inflation, productivity, and workplace safety, is a crucial source of economic statistics. They provide trustworthy information for decision-makers, economists, and journalists through their numerous surveys and programs.

The Federal Reserve may use expansionary monetary policies to boost the economy if job growth seems sluggish. These measures involve adjusting interest rates and the money supply.

Making investment decisions requires a grasp of job growth. The Employment Situation Summary gives a quick overview of the state of the labor market, which affects the financial markets and influences investment decisions.

Stock markets react to changes in Jobs growth, and analysts compare actual data to forecasts to assess the state of the economy.

Investors and policymakers may forecast economic trends and make knowledgeable decisions using this employment report card.

Finally, the development of work prospects is reflected in the rise of jobs, which is a crucial economic indicator. It dramatically impacts monetary policy formation and investment strategies, affecting financial markets and dictating economic results.

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Researched and authored by Sethuraman | Linkedin

Reviewed and edited by Alexander Bellucci | LinkedIn

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