Darren Brostrom

Interim Executive Director

NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 17, 2014

Contact: Marcia Goetz

701.328.4029 megoetz@nd.gov

North Dakotas Unemployment Rate 3.3% for January

Bismarck Job Service North Dakota reported that labor statistics released today show North Dakotas January not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3 percent. The rate was an increase from prior month (December 2.7 percent), and lower than a year ago 4.0 percent). The national rate in January was 7.0 percent. Marcia Goetz, Labor Market Information co-manager stated, Unemployment rates in the state tend to peak in the first quarter of the year as seasonal unemployment occurs. Januarys rate reflects this trend as it was also a colder than usual month, which hampered outside activities. However, the rate continues below historic average for the month of approximately 5.0 percent. North Dakota Not Seasonally Adjusted Labor Force Data Unemployment Rate Unemployed Employed Labor Force January 2014 3.3% 13,276 383,888 397,164 December 2013 2.7% 10,714 386,191 396,905 January 2013 4.0% 15,533 375,416 390,949

The nations seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.6 percent for January, a 0.1 percentage point decrease from prior month (December 6.7 percent). The current months rate was 1.3 percentage points below last year (7.9 percent). The seasonally adjusted rate for North Dakota was 2.6 percent in January, little changed over the month with December at 2.7 percent. The current months rate is a decrease from January 2013 (3.0 percent). The seasonal adjustment process utilizes a statistical adjustment to accommodate predictable fluctuations between months; such as length of daylight and typical weather. Seasonal adjustment allows for comparison between all months of a year. Seasonally Adjusted Rates January 2014 December 2013 2.6% 2.7% 6.6% 6.7%

North Dakota United States

Notes:

January 2013 3.0% 7.9%

1. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people actively seeking work compared to those in the labor force (employed plus unemployed). 2. Data are subject to revision. 3. The Job Service North Dakota Labor Market Information Center produced these statistics using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics nationallyrequired standard methodology. 4. County and substate areas will be posted on 3-24-2014 to the Labor Market Information website: http://www.ndworkforceintelligence.com.

Job Service North Dakota, PO Box 5507, Bismarck, ND 58506-5507 TTY: 1.800.366.6888 www.jobsnd.com