Material and commentaries published in the past may or may not be helpful in analyzing current economic or financial market activity. Please note publishing date when reviewing materials.  Please email [email protected] for our current thoughts or to reach an advisor.

 

January Jobs

Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D.
Mon Feb 7, 2022

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the economy created 467,000 jobs in the month of January, while the unemployment rate remained constant at 4%, as did the participation rate (62.2%). This number was about twice the 207,000 predicted by some economists and notably different from the 301,000 job losses predicted by ADP. Most of the job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade, and transportation and warehousing. As the following chart shows, while the economy is creating jobs, there has been a steady decline in the number of new jobs created each month since October 2021, a trend which is consistent with a potential slowdown in real GDP growth. This trend seems contrary to the strong positive reaction of some to nearly half a million jobs being created in January.
 

 

January Jobs by Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D. Chart 01

 


The BLS also noted that the unemployment rate remained steady at 4%, as did the reported unemployment rates for the four ethnic groups BLS compiles data for – Whites (3.4%), African Americans (6.9%), Hispanics (4.9%), and Asians (3.6%). But the overall unemployment rate is still above the 3.5% it was prior to the pandemic.

While the economy has been creating jobs, it has still not replaced all the jobs lost due to the pandemic, as illustrated in the next chart. We are still 2,875,000 jobs short of where we were before the pandemic hit.

 

 

January Jobs by Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D. Chart 02

 


On the positive side, at least from an employee’s perspective, according to the December  JOLTS data,  there are now 4,606,000 more job openings than there are unemployed people actively looking for work, as this next chart illustrates.
 

 

January Jobs by Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D. Chart 03

 


Complicating this jobs picture, however, are data suggesting that there is a reservoir of 5.7 million people technically not in the labor force who reportedly want a job. The reasons many of these people are not in the labor force at this time likely have to do with the pandemic. For example, some parents, most often women, may be temporarily out of the job market to deal with childcare needs.

Interestingly, as one indicator of how jobs and the labor market have changed, BLS now reports that 15.4% of the people are teleworking as the result of the pandemic. Certainly, this percentage is much higher for us at Cumberland, where most of our employees are working from home, and we have repeatedly postponed full return to the office. Of course, our business is one that permits such flexibility, whereas it would be impossible for a restaurant to enable its employees to telecommute.

 

Robert Eisenbeis, Ph.D.
Vice Chairman & Chief Monetary Economist
 Email | Bio


Links to other websites or electronic media controlled or offered by Third-Parties (non-affiliates of Cumberland Advisors) are provided only as a reference and courtesy to our users. Cumberland Advisors has no control over such websites, does not recommend or endorse any opinions, ideas, products, information, or content of such sites, and makes no warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of their content. Cumberland Advisors hereby disclaims liability for any information, materials, products or services posted or offered at any of the Third-Party websites. The Third-Party may have a privacy and/or security policy different from that of Cumberland Advisors. Therefore, please refer to the specific privacy and security policies of the Third-Party when accessing their websites.


 

Sign up for our FREE Cumberland Market Commentaries

 


Cumberland Advisors Market Commentaries offer insights and analysis on upcoming, important economic issues that potentially impact global financial markets. Our team shares their thinking on global economic developments, market news and other factors that often influence investment opportunities and strategies.