08.02.2019
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 164000 in July and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.7 percent the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Notable job gains occurred in professional and technical services health care social assistance and financial activities.
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised down by 10000 from +72000 to +62000 and the change for June was revised down by 31000 from +224000 to +193000. With these revisions employment gains in May and June combined were 41000 less than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.) After revisions job gains have averaged +140000 per month over the last 3 months.
Professional and technical services added 31000 jobs in July bringing the 12-month job gain to 300000. In July employment increased by 11000 in computer systems design and related services; this industry accounted for about one-third of employment growth in professional and technical services both over the month and over the year. Employment in health care rose by 30000 over the month reflecting a gain in ambulatory health care services (+29000). Health care employment has increased by 405000 over the year with ambulatory health care services accounting for about two-thirds of the gain. Social assistance added 20000 jobs in July. Employment in this industry has increased by 143000 over the year. In July financial activities employment rose by 18000 with most of the gain occurring in insurance carriers and related activities (+11000). Mining employment declined by 5000 in July after showing little net change in recent months. Manufacturing employment changed little in July (+16000) and thus far in 2019. Job gains in the industry had averaged 22000 per month in 2018. Employment in other major industries including construction wholesale trade retail trade transportation and warehousing information leisure and hospitality and government changed little over the month.
In July average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 8 cents to $27.98 following an 8-cent gain in June. Over the past 12 months average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent. In July average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 4 cents to $23.46.
The full BLS press release on the July 2019 employment situation can be accessed in the link below.
The next employment situation report for August 2019 is scheduled to be released on Friday September 6 2019.
