Job Report in US, July 2018 – Employment rose by 157,000 and unemployment down to 3.9 percent

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 157,000 in July, and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.9 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Employment increased in professional and business services, in manufacturing, and in health care and social assistance.

Household Survey Data

In July, the unemployment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point to 3.9 percent, following an increase in June. The number of unemployed persons declined by 284,000 to 6.3 million in July.

Both measures were down over the year, by 0.4 percentage point and 676,000, respectively.(See table A-1.)

Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 7 cents to $27.05. Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased by 71 cents, or 2.7 percent.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Employment Situation Summary