I use the monthly employment report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as my source regarding the situation. Last week's report for
June showed an increase of 147,000 jobs. Most interesting are the sectors in which those jobs were found:
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 147,000 in June, in line with the average
monthly gain of 146,000 over the prior 12 months. In June, job gains occurred in state
government and health care. Federal government continued to lose jobs. (See table B-1.)
Government employment rose by 73,000 in June. Employment in state government increased by
47,000, largely in education (+40,000). Employment in local government education continued to
trend up (+23,000). Job losses continued in federal government (-7,000), where employment is
down by 69,000 since reaching a recent peak in January. (Employees on paid leave or receiving
ongoing severance pay are counted as employed in the establishment survey.)
Health care added 39,000 jobs in June, similar to the average monthly gain of 43,000 over the
prior 12 months. In June, job gains occurred in hospitals (+16,000) and in nursing and
residential care facilities (+14,000).
In June, social assistance employment continued to trend up (+19,000), reflecting continued
growth in individual and family services (+16,000).
Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining,
quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail
trade; transportation and warehousing; information; financial activities; professional and
business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.