Advance copies of this statement are made available to the 

press under lock-up conditions with the explicit 

understanding that the data are embargoed until 8:30 a.m. 

Eastern Daylight Time.

Statement of

Kathleen P. Utgoff

Commissioner

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Friday, May 5, 2006

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 138,000 in 

April, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 

percent. Over the year, nonfarm employment has risen by 

about 2 million. Average hourly earnings were up by 9 

cents over the month. 

In the service-providing sector, the health care 

industry remained a steady source of job growth in April, 

as employment rose by 23,000. Job gains were spread among 

nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, and 

doctors’ offices. 

Employment in finance and insurance continued to 

expand over the month. The credit intermediation industry 

added 9,000 jobs, and the insurance industry grew by 10,000 

jobs. Since last September, employment growth in the

insurance industry has strengthened; 55,000 jobs were added 
2

over this period. Employment in professional and business 

services and in food services and drinking establishments 

continued to trend up. 

Retail trade employment was down over the month. 

Employment in general merchandise stores declined by 

34,000, following a large increase in March. Overall, the 

number of retail jobs has changed little, on net, since the 

middle of last year. 

In the goods-producing sector, manufacturing 

employment increased by 19,000 over the month, with gains 

occurring in several durable goods industries. Motor 

vehicles employment was up by 12,000 over the month. 

Despite the gain, motor vehicles employment in April was 

about the same as in January of this year. Over the month, 

there also were job gains in computer and electronic 

products and in fabricated metals. Manufacturing hours 

were unchanged in April, and factory overtime edged down.

Employment in support activities for mining continued 

to rise in April, primarily in activities related to oil 

and gas operations. Since its recent low point in April 

2003, mining support employment has grown by 79,000, or 45 

percent.

Construction employment was little changed for the 

second straight month following large gains in January and 
3

February. Since its last low point in March 2003, the 

construction industry has added 855,000 jobs. 

Average hourly earnings for production or 

nonsupervisory workers in the private sector rose by 9 

cents in April to $16.61. This followed gains of 5 cents 

in March and 7 cents in February. Over the year, average 

hourly earnings have risen by 3.8 percent. 

Most major indicators from the household survey showed 

little or no change over the month. The unemployment rate 

held at 4.7 percent in April and has been at or near that 

level since January. The civilian labor force 

participation rate was 66.1 percent in April. In the past 

year, the participation rate has remained in a narrow range 

from 66.0 to 66.2 percent. 

In summary, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 

138,000 in April, and the unemployment rate held at 4.7 

percent.