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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The solid increase in November payroll employment is consistent with a host of recent figures depicting a healthy economy, Chairman Jim Saxton said today. Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased by 215,000 in November, with gains occurring in many industries. The BLS diffusion index - an important measure of the breadth of employment gains - rose to 62.4 percent in November. The unemployment rate was 5.0 percent. Since May of 2003, payroll employment has increased by 4.5 million jobs.

“The November employment gains reflect the underlying strength and resilience of the economy despite the tragic and disruptive effects of the hurricanes,” Saxton said. "The economy has now absorbed yet another shock, and employment appears to have resumed its previous growth path. The breadth of employment gains as measured by the diffusion index is also encouraging.

“We know from the economic growth figures released yesterday that the economy grew at a 4.3 percent rate in the third quarter. The economy seems to have a lot of forward momentum and the outlook for the fourth quarter is good. According to a variety of government and private economic forecasts, healthy growth is expected to continue through 2006,” Saxton concluded.

For more information on employment conditions, please visit the committee website at www.house.gov/jec/

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