Gallup News Release (02/17/12) Dennis Jacobe

The U.S. unemployment rate, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, is 9.0% in mid-February, up from 8.6% for January. The mid-month reading normally reflects what the U.S. government reports for the entire month, and is up seven-tenths of a percentage point from its mid-January report. The report suggests the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics will likely report on March 2 that its seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased in February.

Gallup said seasonal factors—such as job loss by seasonal employees hired over the holidays—could be responsible for the sharp increase it found in unemployment. The organization also found that 10.0% of U.S. employees are working part time but want full-time work, essentially the same as in January.