January 25, 2022
Summary
North Dakota lost 1,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.1 percent in December, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released at 10:00am on January 25, 2022.
Over the past twelve months, North Dakota added 11,500 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1.6 percentage points from 4.7 percent.
In December, North Dakota’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs and over the past twelve months it added 9,700 private payroll jobs in the establishment survey.
In the household survey, the number of unemployed fell by 542 on net in December, and over the past year employment rose by 4,343.
North Dakota’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 68.4 percent in December . Since last year, the labor force participation rate fell by 0.6 percentage point.
The national unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage point in December to 3.9 percent. State employment and unemployment data for January is scheduled for release March 14, 2022. The national employment situation report for January will be released February 04, 2022.
North Dakota Payroll Employment
North Dakota lost 1,100 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, North Dakota added 2,700 jobs. Over the past twelve months, North Dakota added 11,500 payroll jobs, or 2.8 percent. North Dakota nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 199,000 in December, or rose by 0.1 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with December, nonfarm payrolls rose by 6,448,000 jobs, or 4.5 percent. North Dakota is tied for 31st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
During December, North Dakota’s private-sector lost 900 jobs, or approximately -0.3 percent. The private-sector in North Dakota added 2,700 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in North Dakota added 9,700, or 2.9 percent. North Dakota private-sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 211,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,996,000 jobs in the private sector, or 5 percent. North Dakota is tied for 35th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during December were Mining and Logging (200) and Professional and Business Services (100). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600).
The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Leisure and Hospitality (5,300) and Government (1,800). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities tied with Education and Health Services (-200) and Construction (-300).
North Dakota Labor Force Statistics
Labor Force Participation
The labor force participation rate in North Dakota remained unchanged at 68.4 percent in December . At a labor force participation rate of 68.4 percent, North Dakota ranks 4th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in North Dakota fell by 0.6 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota was 72.8 percent last occurring in April 2012. The series high for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota last occurred in August 2008 when the labor force participation rate hit 74.7 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 68.4 percent , last occurring in December 2021. The series low for the labor force participation rate in North Dakota occurred in March 1976 when the labor force participation rate hit 62.3 percent.
The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 61.9 percent in December. That rate rose by 0.4 percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8 percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the North Dakota civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in December rose to 66.3 from 66.2 percent in the prior month. At 66.3 percent, North Dakota ranks 5th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in North Dakota rose by 0.5 percentage point from a year earlier.
The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in North Dakota was 70.7 percent in March 2012. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in North Dakota last occurred in July 2008 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 72.4 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 64.1 percent in April 2020. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio in North Dakota occurred in March 1976 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 60.2 percent.
The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.2 percentage point over the month to 59.5 percent in December. That rate rose by 2.1 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.