Unemployment rate declines on increased jobs in June

With 223,000 new jobs in June, the U.S. unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a point to 5.3 percent.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports job gains were led by the professional and business services, health care, retail trade, financial activities, and transportation and warehousing industries, according to a news release.

Professional and business services employers added 64,000 jobs last month, above an average monthly gain of 57,000 during the prior 12 months. Within the industry, temporary help services jobs were up by 20,000, architectural and engineering services moved up 4,000, and corporate systems design and related services increased by 4,000.

In health care, jobs increased by over 40,000, with ambulatory care services at 23,000, hospitals at 11,000 and nursing and residential care facilities at 7,000, according to the release.

Retail trade employment rose by 33,000 positions during June. General merchandise stores led the way with 10,000 jobs. The industry has added 300,000 positions during the past year.

Employment in financial activities rose by 20,000, with most of the increase coming from insurance carriers and related activities, at 9,000, and securities, commodity contracts and investments, at 7,000. Commercial banking employment decreased by 6,000 jobs during the month, according to the release.

Transportation and warehousing employers netted 17,000 new jobs in June. Truck transportation added 7,000 jobs in the industry.

In June, the number of unemployed in the country declined by 375,000 to 8.3 million, according to the release.[[In-content Ad]]