Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 209,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 4.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in food services and drinking places, professional and business services, and health care. Household Survey Data Both the unemployment rate, at 4.3 percent, and the number of unemployed persons, at 7.0 million, changed little in July. After declining earlier in the year, the unemployment rate has shown little movement in recent months. (See table A-1.) Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (4.0 ... (full story)

The U.S. labor market hit its stride in July, as employers added workers at a solid clip, the jobless rate matched a 16-year low and monthly wage growth picked up. Highlights of Employment (July) • Payrolls rose 209k (est. 180k); May-June revisions added 2k jobs • Unemployment rate, derived from separate survey of households, fell to 4.3% (matching est.) • Average hourly earnings rose 0.3% m/m (matching est.) after 0.2% gain; up 2.5% y/y (est. 2.4%) Job gains were broad-based during July, led by a large jump in leisure and hospitality employment, a move driven by restaurants. Hiring also hit five-month highs in ... (full story)