US and EU Employment Figures

U.S. total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 243,000 in January (Market expectation 200,000), and the unemployment rate decreased to 8.3 percent (8.5 expected).

 The unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point in January; the rate has fallen by 0.8 point since August.

Job growth was widespread in the private sector.

Government employment changed little over the month. 

The number of unemployed persons declined to 12.8 million in January.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed at 5.5 million and accounted for 42.9 percent of the unemployed.

 Euro area unemployment rate at 10.4% in December 2011, unchanged compared with November.  It was 10.0% in December 2010.

The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.9%, also unchanged compared with November. It was 9.5% in December 2010.