BLS: U.S. Economy Adds 209,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Up Slightly

JUST released from the BLS.

First from the household survey:

Both the unemployment rate (6.2 percent) and the number of unemployed persons (9.7 million) changed little in July. Over the past 12 months, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons have declined by 1.1 percentage points and 1.7 million, respectively. 

And from the establishment survey:

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 209,000 in July, the same as its average monthly gain over the prior 12 months. In July, employment grew in professional and business services, manufacturing, retail trade, and construction.

Other highlights:

  • Long-term unemployment (unemployed 27 weeks or longer) remained unchanged from June, but is down roughly 1.1 million from a year ago.  Overall, it is less than half its recession high in 2010.  Also, the median length of unemployment is down to 13.3 weeks, down from a recession high of 25 weeks;
  • The employment-population rate remained unchanged at 59%, and is up 0.3% points from last July.  This is still down 3.7% points from the onset of the recession;
  • The labor force participation rate inched up 0.1% points from last month to 62.9%, but is down 0.4% points from a year ago.  The LFPR was 66% at the onset of the recession in December, 2007;
  • Involuntary part-time work remained unchanged from last month, but overall is down 600,000 from a year ago to 7,511,000, and is down 1,700,000 from its recession high of March, 2010;
  • Marginally attached workers climbed slightly, some 150,000 to 2,178,000 workers, but is down roughly 300,000 from a year ago.  This is below the recession high of 2,809,000 of January, 2012, but is well above the total at the onset of the recession (1,344,000);
  • Average weekly hours for all employees remained unchanged at 34.5 hours, and is up just 0.1 hours from a year ago.  For production, non-supervisory workers, hours remained unchanged from June, and are up slightly 0.2 hours to 33.7 hours from a year ago;
  • Average weekly wages for all employees increased $18.96 or 2.2% from last year, which is just above inflation.  For production, non-supervisor workers weekly wages were up $19.53 or 2.9%, also above inflation.
John Haskell

About John Haskell

John graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Political Science, and from the University of Maine School of Law. He has worked in both the public and private sectors, and currently, works with a small business services company in the Mid-Coast area.