{"id":128210,"date":"2021-09-03T13:43:01","date_gmt":"2021-09-03T20:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=128210"},"modified":"2021-09-03T13:43:01","modified_gmt":"2021-09-03T20:43:01","slug":"job-growth-slower-than-expected-in-august-as-only-235000-jobs-added","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=128210","title":{"rendered":"Job Growth Slower Than Expected in August as Only 235,000 Jobs Added"},"content":{"rendered":"

Washington, DC…Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 235,000 in August, and the unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 5.2 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. So far this year, monthly job growth has averaged 586,000. In August, notable job gains occurred in professional and business services, transportation and warehousing, private education, manufacturing, and other services. Employment in retail trade declined over the month. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
HOUSEHOLD DATA
\nSummary table A. Household data, seasonally adjusted<\/span>[Numbers in thousands]<\/span><\/caption>\n
Category<\/th>\nAug.
\n2020<\/th>\n		June
\n2021<\/th>\n		July
\n2021<\/th>\n		Aug.
\n2021<\/th>\n		Change from:
\nJuly
\n2021-
\nAug.
\n2021<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\n

Employment status<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Civilian noninstitutional population<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

260,558<\/span><\/td>\n261,338<\/span><\/td>\n261,469<\/span><\/td>\n261,611<\/span><\/td>\n142<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Civilian labor force<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

160,818<\/span><\/td>\n161,086<\/span><\/td>\n161,347<\/span><\/td>\n161,537<\/span><\/td>\n190<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Participation rate<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

61.7<\/span><\/td>\n61.6<\/span><\/td>\n61.7<\/span><\/td>\n61.7<\/span><\/td>\n0.0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Employed<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

147,276<\/span><\/td>\n151,602<\/span><\/td>\n152,645<\/span><\/td>\n153,154<\/span><\/td>\n509<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Employment-population ratio<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

56.5<\/span><\/td>\n58.0<\/span><\/td>\n58.4<\/span><\/td>\n58.5<\/span><\/td>\n0.1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Unemployed<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

13,542<\/span><\/td>\n9,484<\/span><\/td>\n8,702<\/span><\/td>\n8,384<\/span><\/td>\n-318<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Unemployment rate<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

8.4<\/span><\/td>\n5.9<\/span><\/td>\n5.4<\/span><\/td>\n5.2<\/span><\/td>\n-0.2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Not in labor force<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

99,740<\/span><\/td>\n100,253<\/span><\/td>\n100,123<\/span><\/td>\n100,074<\/span><\/td>\n-49<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Unemployment rates<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Total, 16 years and over<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

8.4<\/span><\/td>\n5.9<\/span><\/td>\n5.4<\/span><\/td>\n5.2<\/span><\/td>\n-0.2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Adult men (20 years and over)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

8.0<\/span><\/td>\n5.9<\/span><\/td>\n5.4<\/span><\/td>\n5.1<\/span><\/td>\n-0.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Adult women (20 years and over)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

8.3<\/span><\/td>\n5.5<\/span><\/td>\n5.0<\/span><\/td>\n4.8<\/span><\/td>\n-0.2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Teenagers (16 to 19 years)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

16.4<\/span><\/td>\n9.9<\/span><\/td>\n9.6<\/span><\/td>\n11.2<\/span><\/td>\n1.6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

White<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

7.4<\/span><\/td>\n5.2<\/span><\/td>\n4.8<\/span><\/td>\n4.5<\/span><\/td>\n-0.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Black or African American<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

12.8<\/span><\/td>\n9.2<\/span><\/td>\n8.2<\/span><\/td>\n8.8<\/span><\/td>\n0.6<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Asian<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

10.6<\/span><\/td>\n5.8<\/span><\/td>\n5.3<\/span><\/td>\n4.6<\/span><\/td>\n-0.7<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Hispanic or Latino ethnicity<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

10.5<\/span><\/td>\n7.4<\/span><\/td>\n6.6<\/span><\/td>\n6.4<\/span><\/td>\n-0.2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Total, 25 years and over<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

7.5<\/span><\/td>\n5.4<\/span><\/td>\n4.8<\/span><\/td>\n4.5<\/span><\/td>\n-0.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Less than a high school diploma<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

12.6<\/span><\/td>\n10.2<\/span><\/td>\n9.5<\/span><\/td>\n7.8<\/span><\/td>\n-1.7<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

High school graduates, no college<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

9.8<\/span><\/td>\n7.0<\/span><\/td>\n6.3<\/span><\/td>\n6.0<\/span><\/td>\n-0.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Some college or associate degree<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

8.0<\/span><\/td>\n5.8<\/span><\/td>\n5.0<\/span><\/td>\n5.1<\/span><\/td>\n0.1<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Bachelor’s degree and higher<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

5.3<\/span><\/td>\n3.5<\/span><\/td>\n3.1<\/span><\/td>\n2.8<\/span><\/td>\n-0.3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Reason for unemployment<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

10,248<\/span><\/td>\n5,787<\/span><\/td>\n4,960<\/span><\/td>\n4,468<\/span><\/td>\n-492<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Job leavers<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

595<\/span><\/td>\n942<\/span><\/td>\n930<\/span><\/td>\n822<\/span><\/td>\n-108<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Reentrants<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

2,104<\/span><\/td>\n2,298<\/span><\/td>\n2,287<\/span><\/td>\n2,487<\/span><\/td>\n200<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

New entrants<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

549<\/span><\/td>\n494<\/span><\/td>\n463<\/span><\/td>\n512<\/span><\/td>\n49<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Duration of unemployment<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Less than 5 weeks<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

2,312<\/span><\/td>\n1,981<\/span><\/td>\n2,257<\/span><\/td>\n2,083<\/span><\/td>\n-174<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

5 to 14 weeks<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

3,213<\/span><\/td>\n2,166<\/span><\/td>\n1,861<\/span><\/td>\n2,066<\/span><\/td>\n205<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

15 to 26 weeks<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

6,536<\/span><\/td>\n1,329<\/span><\/td>\n1,174<\/span><\/td>\n1,164<\/span><\/td>\n-10<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

27 weeks and over<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

1,593<\/span><\/td>\n3,985<\/span><\/td>\n3,425<\/span><\/td>\n3,179<\/span><\/td>\n-246<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Employed persons at work part time<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Part time for economic reasons<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

7,533<\/span><\/td>\n4,627<\/span><\/td>\n4,483<\/span><\/td>\n4,469<\/span><\/td>\n-14<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Slack work or business conditions<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

6,181<\/span><\/td>\n3,430<\/span><\/td>\n2,965<\/span><\/td>\n3,183<\/span><\/td>\n218<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Could only find part-time work<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

1,120<\/span><\/td>\n1,007<\/span><\/td>\n1,116<\/span><\/td>\n1,032<\/span><\/td>\n-84<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Part time for noneconomic reasons<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

18,630<\/span><\/td>\n20,337<\/span><\/td>\n20,087<\/span><\/td>\n20,359<\/span><\/td>\n272<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Persons not in the labor force<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Marginally attached to the labor force<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

2,061<\/span><\/td>\n1,830<\/span><\/td>\n1,872<\/span><\/td>\n1,577<\/span><\/td>\n-295<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

Discouraged workers<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

552<\/span><\/td>\n617<\/span><\/td>\n507<\/span><\/td>\n392<\/span><\/td>\n-115<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n
\n

NOTE: Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Detail for the seasonally adjusted data shown in this table will not necessarily add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tfoot>\n<\/table>\n

\r\nThis news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household survey \r\nmeasures labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics. The\r\nestablishment survey measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry. For more\r\ninformation about the concepts and statistical methodology used in these two surveys, see\r\nthe Technical Note.\r\n\r\nHousehold Survey Data\r\n\r\nThe unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 5.2 percent in August. The number\r\nof unemployed persons edged down to 8.4 million, following a large decrease in July. Both\r\nmeasures are down considerably from their highs at the end of the February-April 2020 \r\nrecession. However, they remain above their levels prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) \r\npandemic (3.5 percent and 5.7 million, respectively, in February 2020). (See table A-1. \r\nSee the box note at the end of this news release for more information about how the \r\nhousehold survey and its measures were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.) \r\n\r\nAmong the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (5.1 percent) and \r\nWhites (4.5 percent) declined in August, while the rate for teenagers (11.2 percent) \r\nincreased. The jobless rates for adult women (4.8 percent), Blacks (8.8 percent), Asians\r\n(4.6 percent), and Hispanics (6.4 percent) showed little change over the month. (See \r\ntables A-1, A-2, and A-3.) \r\n\r\nAmong the unemployed, the number of permanent job losers declined by 443,000 to 2.5 \r\nmillion in August but is 1.2 million higher than in February 2020. The number of persons \r\non temporary layoff, at 1.3 million, was essentially unchanged in August. This measure is\r\ndown considerably from the high of 18.0 million in April 2020 but is 502,000 above the \r\nFebruary 2020 level. The number of reentrants to the labor force increased by 200,000 in \r\nAugust to 2.5 million. (Reentrants are persons who previously worked but were not in the\r\nlabor force prior to beginning their job search.) (See table A-11.) \r\n\r\nThe number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) decreased by \r\n246,000 in August to 3.2 million but is 2.1 million higher than in February 2020. These \r\nlong-term unemployed accounted for 37.4 percent of the total unemployed in August. The \r\nnumber of persons jobless less than 5 weeks, at 2.1 million, was little changed. \r\n(See table A-12.) \r\n\r\nThe labor force participation rate, at 61.7 percent in August, was unchanged over the \r\nmonth and has remained within a narrow range of 61.4 percent to 61.7 percent since June \r\n2020. The participation rate is 1.6 percentage points lower than in February 2020. The \r\nemployment-population ratio, at 58.5 percent, was little changed in August. This measure \r\nis up from its low of 51.3 percent in April 2020 but remains below the figure of 61.1 \r\npercent in February 2020. (See table A-1.) \r\n\r\nIn August, the number of persons employed part time for economic reasons, at 4.5 million,\r\nwas essentially unchanged. There were 4.4 million persons in this category in February \r\n2020. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time employment, were working part\r\ntime because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs. \r\n(See table A-8.) \r\n\r\nThe number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job declined by 835,000\r\nin August to 5.7 million but remains higher than the level in February 2020 (5.0 million).\r\nThese individuals were not counted as unemployed because they were not actively looking \r\nfor work during the last 4 weeks or were unavailable to take a job. (See table A-1.) \r\n\r\nAmong those not in the labor force who wanted a job, the number of persons marginally \r\nattached to the labor force, at 1.6 million in August, decreased by 295,000 over the \r\nmonth. These individuals wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job \r\nsometime in the prior 12 months but had not looked for work in the 4 weeks preceding the\r\nsurvey. The number of discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached who \r\nbelieved that no jobs were available for them, was 392,000 in August, down by 115,000 from\r\nthe previous month. (See Summary table A.) \r\n\r\nHousehold Survey Supplemental Data \r\n\r\nIn August, 13.4 percent of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus \r\npandemic, little changed from the prior month. These data refer to employed persons who\r\nteleworked or worked at home for pay at some point in the last 4 weeks specifically \r\nbecause of the pandemic. \r\n\r\nIn August, 5.6 million persons reported that they had been unable to work because their\r\nemployer closed or lost business due to the pandemic--that is, they did not work at all \r\nor worked fewer hours at some point in the last 4 weeks due to the pandemic. This measure\r\nis up from 5.2 million in July. Among those who reported in August that they were unable \r\nto work because of pandemic-related closures or lost business, 13.9 percent received at \r\nleast some pay from their employer for the hours not worked, up from 9.1 percent in the \r\nprior month. \r\n\r\nAmong those not in the labor force in August, 1.5 million persons were prevented from \r\nlooking for work due to the pandemic, little changed from July. (To be counted as \r\nunemployed, by definition, individuals must be either actively looking for work or on \r\ntemporary layoff.) \r\n\r\nThese supplemental data come from questions added to the household survey beginning in \r\nMay 2020 to help gauge the effects of the pandemic on the labor market. The data are not\r\nseasonally adjusted. Tables with estimates from the supplemental questions for all months\r\nare available online at www.bls.gov\/cps\/effects-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.htm.\r\n\r\nEstablishment Survey Data\r\n\r\nTotal nonfarm payroll employment rose by 235,000 in August, following increases of 1.1 \r\nmillion in July and 962,000 in June. Nonfarm employment has risen by 17.0 million since\r\nApril 2020 but is down by 5.3 million, or 3.5 percent, from its pre-pandemic level in \r\nFebruary 2020. In August, notable job gains occurred in professional and business \r\nservices, transportation and warehousing, private education, manufacturing, and other \r\nservices. Employment in retail trade declined over the month. (See table B-1. See the box\r\nnote at the end of this news release for more information about how the establishment \r\nsurvey and its measures were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.) \r\n\r\nEmployment in professional and business services increased by 74,000 in August. Employment\r\nrose in architectural and engineering services (+19,000), computer systems design and \r\nrelated services (+10,000), scientific research and development services (+7,000), and \r\noffice administrative services (+6,000). Since February 2020, employment in professional \r\nand business services is down by 468,000, over half of which is in temporary help services\r\n(-262,000). \r\n\r\nTransportation and warehousing added 53,000 jobs in August, bringing employment in the \r\nindustry slightly above (+22,000) its pre-pandemic level in February 2020. Employment gains\r\nhave been led by strong growth in couriers and messengers and in warehousing and storage,\r\nwhich added 20,000 jobs each in August. Air transportation also added jobs (+11,000), while\r\ntransit and ground passenger transportation--which includes school buses--lost jobs (-8,000).\r\n\r\nIn August, employment increased by 40,000 in private education, declined by 21,000 in state\r\ngovernment education, and changed little in local government education (-6,000). In all \r\nthree industries, these employment changes followed job gains in June and July. August marks\r\nthe beginning of the traditional back-to-school season. However, recent employment changes \r\nare challenging to interpret, as pandemic-related staffing fluctuations in public and \r\nprivate education have distorted the normal seasonal hiring and layoff patterns. Since \r\nFebruary 2020, employment is down by 159,000 in private education, by 186,000 in state \r\ngovernment education, and by 220,000 in local government education.\r\n\r\nManufacturing added 37,000 jobs in August, with gains in motor vehicles and parts (+24,000)\r\nand fabricated metal products (+7,000). Employment in manufacturing is down by 378,000 from\r\nits pre-pandemic level in February 2020.\r\n\r\nThe other services industry added 37,000 jobs in August, but employment is 189,000 lower \r\nthan in February 2020. In August, employment rose in personal and laundry services \r\n(+19,000) and in repair and maintenance (+9,000). \r\n\r\nEmployment in information increased by 17,000 in August, reflecting a gain in data \r\nprocessing, hosting, and related services (+12,000). Employment in information is down by\r\n150,000 since February 2020.  \r\n\r\nEmployment in financial activities rose by 16,000 over the month, with most of the gain\r\noccurring in real estate (+11,000). Employment in financial activities is down by 29,000\r\nsince February 2020. \r\n\r\nMining added 6,000 jobs in August, reflecting a gain in support activities for mining \r\n(+4,000). Mining employment has risen by 55,000 since a trough in August 2020 but is \r\n96,000 below a peak in January 2019.\r\n\r\nEmployment in retail trade declined by 29,000 in August, with losses in food and beverage\r\nstores (-23,000) and in building material and garden supply stores (-13,000). Retail trade\r\nemployment is down by 285,000 since February 2020.\r\n\r\nIn August, employment in leisure and hospitality was unchanged, after increasing by an \r\naverage of 350,000 per month over the prior 6 months. In August, a job gain in arts, \r\nentertainment, and recreation (+36,000) was more than offset by a loss in food services \r\nand drinking places (-42,000). Employment in leisure and hospitality is down by 1.7 \r\nmillion, or 10.0 percent, since February 2020.\r\n\r\nIn August, employment showed little change in other major industries, including \r\nconstruction, wholesale trade, and health care. \r\n\r\nAverage hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 17 cents to\r\n$30.73 in August, following increases in the prior 4 months. In August, average hourly\r\nearnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 14 cents to \r\n$25.99. The data for recent months suggest that the rising demand for labor associated \r\nwith the recovery from the pandemic may have put upward pressure on wages. However, \r\nbecause average hourly earnings vary widely across industries, the large employment \r\nfluctuations since February 2020 complicate the analysis of recent trends in average \r\nhourly earnings. (See tables B-3 and B-8.)\r\n\r\nIn August, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was 34.7 \r\nhours for the third consecutive month. In manufacturing, the average workweek fell by 0.2\r\nhour over the month to 40.3 hours, and overtime remained at 3.2 hours. The average \r\nworkweek for production and nonsupervisory employees on private nonfarm payrolls was \r\nunchanged at 34.2 hours. (See tables B-2 and B-7.)\r\n\r\nThe change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised up by 24,000, from \r\n+938,000 to +962,000, and the change for July was revised up by 110,000, from +943,000 \r\nto +1,053,000. With these revisions, employment in June and July combined is 134,000 \r\nhigher than previously reported. (Monthly revisions result from additional reports \r\nreceived from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and\r\nfrom the recalculation of seasonal factors.)\r\n\r\n_____________\r\nThe Employment Situation for September is scheduled to be released on Friday, October 8,\r\n2021, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).\r\n\r\n\r\n _______________________________________________________________________________________\r\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|\r\n|              Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on August 2021 Household and               |\r\n|                                Establishment Survey Data                              |\r\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|\r\n| Data collection for both surveys was affected by the pandemic. In the establishment \t|\r\n| survey, more data continued to be collected by web than in months prior to the \t|\r\n| pandemic. In the household survey, for the safety of both interviewers and \t\t|\r\n| respondents, in-person interviews were conducted only when telephone interviews could |\r\n| not be done. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|\r\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|\r\n| As in previous months, some workers affected by the pandemic who should have been \t|\r\n| classified as unemployed on temporary layoff were instead misclassified as employed \t|\r\n| but not at work. However, the share of responses that may have been misclassified was |\r\n| highest in the early months of the pandemic and has been considerably lower in recent |\r\n| months. Since March 2020, BLS has published an estimate of what the unemployment rate |\r\n| might have been had misclassified workers been included among the unemployed.\t\t|\r\n| Repeating this same approach, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in August \t|\r\n| 2021 would have been 0.3 percentage point higher than reported. However, this \t|\r\n| represents the upper bound of our estimate of misclassification and probably \t\t|\r\n| overstates the size of the misclassification error. \t\t\t\t\t|\r\n|\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|\r\n| More information about the impact of the pandemic on the two surveys is available at  |\r\n| www.bls.gov\/covid19\/employment-situation-covid19-faq-august-2021.htm.\t\t\t|\r\n|_______________________________________________________________________________________|\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/pre>\n