Positive News - U.S. Job Creation Unchanged in December
U.S. Job Creation Unchanged in December
Gallup Job Creation Index at +14 -- same as in October and November
by Dennis Jacobe
Gallup
January 4, 2012
PRINCETON, NJ -- Job market conditions in the U.S. remain unchanged in December, with Gallup's Job Creation Index continuing at +14 for the third month in a row. While job creation has not improved during recent months, the jobs situation has not deteriorated as it typically does at this time of year. It instead remains near the high point for the year and is significantly better than the +10 of one year ago. The Job Creation Index average for 2011 is +13, about twice the 2010 average of +7.
Hiring and Firing Also Unchanged
The Job Creation Index of +14 is based on 32% of workers nationwide saying their employer is hiring workers and expanding its workforce and 18% saying their employer is letting workers go and reducing its workforce -- the same as November. Hiring was at 29% and firing at 19% in December 2010.
Implications
The lack of change in Gallup's Job Creation Index in December provides some mildly good news about U.S. job market conditions. The Index is not seasonally adjusted and the job situation usually deteriorates at this time of year, meaning this lack of change is a mild positive. The same is true for the fact that the Index closed out 2011 near its high for the year.
