Equitable Growth’s Jobs Day Graphs: December 2018 Report Edition

Earlier this morning, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released new data on the U.S. labor market during the month of December. Below are five graphs compiled by Equitable Growth staff highlighting important trends in the data.

1.

The employment rate for prime-age workers stayed the same in December, holding on to gains made over the past year in a tightening labor market.

View Fullscreenthis figure — opens in a new tab

2.

Year-over-year wage growth increased to 3.2% as it inches closer to the expected nominal target of 3.5-4.0% in a tight labor market.

View Fullscreenthis figure — opens in a new tab

3.

Employment growth continues to be strongest in health care and other service sectors, but also continued to make modest gains in manufacturing and construction in December.

View Fullscreenthis figure — opens in a new tab

4.

While more workers voluntarily left their jobs into new unemployment in December, unemployment for more than 15 weeks also edged downward.

View Fullscreenthis figure — opens in a new tab

5.

As overall unemployment increased due to more workers entering the labor force in a healthy economy, the unemployment rate for African Americans and Hispanic or Latina workers continues to be significantly higher than that of White workers.

View Fullscreenthis figure — opens in a new tab