Employment in manufacturing and wholesale trade remained relatively flat in June, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 223,000 and the unemployment rate declined 0.2 percent to 5.3 percent.
Job gains occurred in professional and business services (+64,000), health care (+40,000), retail trade (+33,000), financial activities (+20,000), transportation and warehousing (+17,000) and food services and drinking places (+30,000).
Employment in mining continued to trend down (-4,000) in June.
Employment in other major industries, including construction, information and government, showed little or no change over the month.
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls were unchanged at $24.95. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees edged up by 2 cents to $20.99 in June.
The number of unemployed persons declined by 375,000 to 8.3 million in June, while the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) declined by 381,000 to 2.1 million. These individuals accounted for 25.8 percent of the unemployed.
