Employment Update

The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment continued to trend up in health care, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance. Federal government continued to lose jobs.

In May, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by​ 218,000 to 1.5 million. The long-term unemployed accounted for 20.4 percent of all unemployed people.​

In May, the labor force participation rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 62.4 percent.

Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 15 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $36.24 in May. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.9 percent. In May, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 12 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $31.18

The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, at 4.6 million, changed little in May. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced, or they were unable to find full-time jobs.

In May, the number of people not in the labor force who currently want a job was little changed at 6.0 million. These individuals were not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking for work during the 4 weeks preceding the survey or were unavailable to take a job.

Temporary help employment was 1.57% of total nonfarm employment in May.

Temporary help jobs in May increased to 5.1%, seasonally adjusted, from last month.

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 139,000 in May, similar to the average monthly gain of 149,000 over the prior 12 months.

In May, employment continued to trend up in:
-healthcare (62k)
-leisure & hospitality (48k)
-social assistance (16k)

Federal government continued to lose jobs.