The United States added 528,000 jobs last month, far exceeding forecasts of 250,000 and beating June’s upwardly revised 398,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced in a Friday (Aug. 5) press release.
The unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% with the total number of people unemployed falling to 5.7 million, both numbers at February 2020 levels, the release stated.
Job growth was widespread in July, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and healthcare. Total nonfarm employment went up by 22 million since reaching a low in April 2020 and has returned to its pre-pandemic level. Private-sector employment was 629,000 higher than in February 2020, although several sectors have yet to recover.
Employment in professional and business services rose by 89,000 in July and was 986,000 above its February 2020 level. Jobs in management and architectural and engineering services were each up by 13,000. Technical consulting services saw a boost of 12,000 jobs, and scientific research and development services, 10,000.
Healthcare added 70,000 jobs in July but was still 78,000 below its February 2020 level. The sector added 47,000 new jobs in ambulatory healthcare services, 13,000 in hospitals, and 9,000 in nursing and residential care facilities.
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Government jobs rose by 57,000 in July but was below its February 2020 level by 597,000. Local government saw a 27,000 boost in education jobs but is still below its February 2020 level by 555,000 positions.
Jobs in construction were up 82,000 over February 2020, with 32,000 new positions added in July, mostly in specialty trade contractors, up 22,000.
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Transportation and warehousing added 745,000 more jobs than in February 2020, with 21,000 new positions in July. Air transportation added 7,000 new positions, and support activities for transportation added 6,000.
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