08.07.2020
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 1.8 million in July and the unemployment rate fell to 10.2 percent the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. These improvements in the labor market reflected the continued resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it. In July notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality government retail trade professional and business services other services and health care.
Employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 592000 accounting for about one-third of the gain in total nonfarm employment in July. Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 502000 following gains of 2.9 million in May and June combined. Despite the gains over the last 3 months employment in food services and drinking places is down by 2.6 million since February. Over the month employment also rose in amusements gambling and recreation (+100000).
Government employment rose by 301000 in July but is 1.1 million below its February level. Typically public-sector education employment declines in July (before seasonal adjustment). However employment declines occurred earlier than usual this year due to the pandemic resulting in unusually large July increases in local government education (+215000) and state government education (+30000) after seasonal adjustment. A July job gain in federal government (+27000) reflected the hiring of temporary workers for the 2020 Census.
In July retail trade added 258000 jobs. Employment in the industry is 913000 lower than in February. In July nearly half of the job gain in retail trade occurred in clothing and clothing accessories stores (+121000). By contrast the component of general merchandise stores that includes warehouse clubs and supercenters lost jobs (-64000).
Employment in professional and business services increased in July (+170000) but remains 1.6 million below its February level. The majority of July’s gain occurred in temporary help services (+144000). In July the other services industry added 149000 jobs with most of the increase occurring in personal and laundry services (+119000). Since February employment in other services is down by 627000.
In July health care added 126000 jobs with employment growth in offices of dentists (+45000) hospitals (+27000) offices of physicians (+26000) and home health care services (+16000). Job losses continued in nursing and residential care facilities (-28000). Employment in health care is down by 797000 since February.
In July employment in social assistance increased by 66000 with child day care services accounting for most of the gain (+45000). Employment in social assistance is 460000 lower than in February. Employment in transportation and warehousing rose by 38000 in July following an increase of 87000 in June. Despite job gains over the past 2 months employment in the industry is down by 470000 since a recent peak in January. In July employment rose in transit and ground passenger transportation (+20000) air transportation (+16000) and couriers and messengers (+9000).
Manufacturing employment increased by 26000 in July. An employment gain in motor vehicles and parts (+39000) was partially offset by losses in fabricated metal products (-11000) machinery (-7000) and computer and electronic products (-6000). Although manufacturing has added 623000 jobs over the past 3 months employment is 740000 lower than in February.
Financial activities added 21000 jobs in July with most of the gain in real estate and rental and leasing (+15000). Since February employment in financial activities is down by 216000.
In July construction employment changed little (+20000) following job gains of 619000 in May and June combined. However employment in the industry remains 444000 below its February level. Mining continued to shed jobs in July (-7000) reflecting a loss in support activities for mining (-11000). Mining has lost 127000 jobs since a recent peak in January 2019 although nearly three-fourths of this decline has occurred since February 2020.
In July average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 7 cents to $29.39 following large changes in recent months. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees decreased by 11 cents to $24.63 in July. The large employment fluctuations—especially in lower-paid industries—over the past several months complicate the analysis of recent trends in average hourly earnings.
The full BLS press release on the July 2020 employment situation can be accessed in the link below:
The next Employment Situation for August 2020 is scheduled to be released on Friday September 4 2020.
