"Employment in service-producing industries, which include retailers, banks and government agencies, rose 135,000 last month after rising 131,000 in December, the report showed. The increase was led by education and health services.
Warm weather helped builders in January, and the economy added 46,000 construction jobs after a 5,000 gain in December. Last month was the warmest January in 112 years, according to Weather Trends International, a Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania- based weather consulting firm.
Manufacturers added 7,000 jobs last month, after cutting 1,000 positions in December. The manufacturing workweek held at 40.8 hours for a third month and overtime held at 4.5 hours."
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aAFvq9gyYuxI&refer=us
Not rain on the back-patting, but I hardly see education, service and government as cause to cheer. More non-productive weight. Maybe we can export some bureaucrats to China this time.
Advanced economies are advanced precisely because labor is released from manufacturing and agriculture to the service sector. Only in hand-to-mouth economies are the majority of workers in those areas. Our productivity is so high it takes few workers to provide the material goods necessary for a good life.
If you don't believe services such as medical care, finance, education and government do not provide for a better life and a stronger economy I suggest you read a few economics texts.