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Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Summary:
The US jobs report was largely in line with expectations. February was the second consecutive month that the US economy created more than 200k jobs. United States Nonfarm payrolls It is the first time since last June and July. The 235k is just below the revised January 238k gain (initially 227k). U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls, February 2017(see more posts on U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls, ) Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge Participation Rate Participation rate increased to 63.0% from 62.9%. U.S. Participation Rate, February 2017(see more posts on U.S. Participation Rate, ) Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge Unemployment Rate The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.7% from 4.8%. U.S. Unemployment Rate, February 2017(see more posts on U.S. Unemployment Rate, ) Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge Average Hourly Earnings A shadow of disappointment comes from average hourly earnings. They rose 0.2% compared with a median guesstimate of 0.3%.  However, the disappointment was blunted by the upward revision to the January figure to 0.2% from 0.1%.  This means that the year-over-year pace stayed steady at the 2.8%, which is still the upper end of the recovery. U.S. Average Hourly Earnings, February 2017(see more posts on U.S. Average Hourly Earnings, ) Source: Investing.

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The US jobs report was largely in line with expectations. February was the second consecutive month that the US economy created more than 200k jobs.

United States

Nonfarm payrolls

It is the first time since last June and July. The 235k is just below the revised January 238k gain (initially 227k).

U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls, February 2017

(see more posts on U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

Participation Rate

Participation rate increased to 63.0% from 62.9%.

U.S. Participation Rate, February 2017

(see more posts on U.S. Participation Rate, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.7% from 4.8%.

U.S. Unemployment Rate, February 2017

(see more posts on U.S. Unemployment Rate, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

Average Hourly Earnings

A shadow of disappointment comes from average hourly earnings. They rose 0.2% compared with a median guesstimate of 0.3%.  However, the disappointment was blunted by the upward revision to the January figure to 0.2% from 0.1%.  This means that the year-over-year pace stayed steady at the 2.8%, which is still the upper end of the recovery.

U.S. Average Hourly Earnings, February 2017

(see more posts on U.S. Average Hourly Earnings, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

 Of note, the manufacturing sector added 28k jobs, matching last January’s high, which was the most since a spike in 2013.  The January figure was revised to 11k from 5k.   This will likely translate into greater manufacturing output.

There is nothing in the report that ought to cast doubt on the likelihood of a Fed hike next week. The market has it discounted, and given the recent string of commentary from Governors as well as regional presidents, not to move would be destabilizing and undermine the credibility of the Federal Reserve.

Canada

Canada also reported its February employment data. It is too good to be true.  Canada says it created 105k full-time positions.  To put this in context, it would be as if the US created one million jobs in a month.  It takes the US 5-6 months to do so. Canada says that of the 105k new full-time positions, women accounted for 101k.   Even if this overstates the job creation in Canada, the underlying trend is strong.

Canada Employment Change, February 2017

(see more posts on Canada Employment Change, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

And the unemployment rate slipped to 6.6%, matching the January 2015 cyclical low.  Note that like the US (and many other high income economies with improving labor markets) wage growth is poor. The average hourly earnings increase in Canada stands at 1.3% year–over-year (1.2% in January).  It is less than half the US pace.

Canada Unemployment Rate, February 2017

(see more posts on Canada Unemployment Rate, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

Canada Participation Rate

Canada Participation Rate, February 2017

(see more posts on Canada Participation Rate, )
Solid US Jobs Report in line with Expectations

Source: Investing.com - Click to enlarge

Lastly, recall that the first quarter has been notoriously weaker than the other quarters during the US recovery and expansion cycle. The first quarter this year is shaping up to be consistent with that pattern.  US growth appears to be tracking a little below trend.


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Marc Chandler
He has been covering the global capital markets in one fashion or another for more than 30 years, working at economic consulting firms and global investment banks. After 14 years as the global head of currency strategy for Brown Brothers Harriman, Chandler joined Bannockburn Global Forex, as a managing partner and chief markets strategist as of October 1, 2018.

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