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<\/a><\/p>\nThis news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The household
\nsurvey measures labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic
\ncharacteristics. The establishment survey measures nonfarm employment, hours,
\nand earnings by industry. For more information about the concepts and statistical
\nmethodology used in these two surveys, see the Technical Note.<\/p>\n
Household Survey Data<\/p>\n
In May, the unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the third month in a row, and
\nthe number of unemployed persons was essentially unchanged at 6.0 million. These
\nmeasures are little different from their values in February 2020 (3.5 percent
\nand 5.7 million, respectively), prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
\n(See table A-1.) <\/p>\n
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asians declined to 2.4
\npercent in May. The jobless rates for adult men (3.4 percent), adult women (3.4
\npercent), teenagers (10.4 percent), Whites (3.2 percent), Blacks (6.2 percent),
\nand Hispanics (4.3 percent) showed little or no change over the month. (See
\ntables A-1, A-2, and A-3.)<\/p>\n
Among the unemployed, the number of permanent job losers remained at 1.4 million
\nin May. The number of persons on temporary layoff was little changed at 810,000.
\nBoth measures are little different from their values in February 2020. (See
\ntable A-11.) <\/p>\n
In May, the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more)
\nedged down to 1.4 million. This measure is 235,000 higher than in February 2020.
\nThe long-term unemployed accounted for 23.2 percent of all unemployed persons
\nin May. (See table A-12.) <\/p>\n
Both the labor force participation rate, at 62.3 percent, and the employment-
\npopulation ratio, at 60.1 percent, were little changed over the month. Both
\nmeasures are 1.1 percentage points below their February 2020 values. (See table
\nA-1.) <\/p>\n
The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons increased by
\n295,000 to 4.3 million in May, reflecting an increase in the number of persons
\nwhose hours were cut due to slack work or business conditions. The number of
\npersons employed part time for economic reasons is little different from its
\nFebruary 2020 level. These individuals, who would have preferred full-time
\nemployment, were working part time because their hours had been reduced or
\nthey were unable to find full-time jobs. (See table A-8.) <\/p>\n
The number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job was
\nlittle changed at 5.7 million in May. This measure remains above its February
\n2020 level of 5.0 million. These individuals were not counted as unemployed
\nbecause they were not actively looking for work during the 4 weeks preceding
\nthe survey or were unavailable to take a job. (See table A-1.) <\/p>\n
Among those not in the labor force who wanted a job, the number of persons
\nmarginally attached to the labor force, at 1.5 million, changed little in May.
\nThese individuals wanted and were available for work and had looked for a job
\nsometime in the prior 12 months but had not looked for work in the 4 weeks
\npreceding the survey. Discouraged workers, a subset of the marginally attached
\nwho believed that no jobs were available for them, numbered 415,000 in May,
\nalso little changed from the prior month. (See Summary table A.) <\/p>\n
Household Survey Supplemental Data <\/p>\n
In May, 7.4 percent of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus
\npandemic, down from 7.7 percent in the prior month. These data refer to employed
\npersons who teleworked or worked at home for pay at some point in the 4 weeks
\npreceding the survey specifically because of the pandemic. <\/p>\n
In May, 1.8 million persons reported that they had been unable to work because
\ntheir employer closed or lost business due to the pandemic–that is, they did
\nnot work at all or worked fewer hours at some point in the 4 weeks preceding
\nthe survey due to the pandemic. This measure is little changed from the previous
\nmonth. Among those who reported in May that they were unable to work because
\nof pandemic-related closures or lost business, 19.9 percent received at least
\nsome pay from their employer for the hours not worked, also little different
\nfrom the prior month. <\/p>\n
Among those not in the labor force in May, 455,000 persons were prevented from
\nlooking for work due to the pandemic, down from 586,000 in the prior month. (To
\nbe counted as unemployed, by definition, individuals must be either actively
\nlooking for work or on temporary layoff.) <\/p>\n
These supplemental data come from questions added to the household survey
\nbeginning in May 2020 to help gauge the effects of the pandemic on the labor
\nmarket. The data are not seasonally adjusted. Tables with estimates from the
\nsupplemental questions for all months are available online at
\nwww.bls.gov\/cps\/effects-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.htm. <\/p>\n
Establishment Survey Data<\/p>\n
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 390,000 in May. Notable job gains
\noccurred in leisure and hospitality, in professional and business services,
\nand in transportation and warehousing. Employment in retail trade declined
\nover the month. Nonfarm employment is down by 822,000, or 0.5 percent, from
\nits pre-pandemic level in February 2020. (See table B-1.)<\/p>\n
Employment in leisure and hospitality increased by 84,000 in May, as job
\ngrowth continued in food services and drinking places (+46,000) and
\naccommodation (+21,000). Employment in leisure and hospitality is down by
\n1.3 million, or 7.9 percent, compared with February 2020.<\/p>\n
Employment in professional and business services rose by 75,000 in May.
\nWithin the industry, job gains occurred in accounting and bookkeeping
\nservices (+16,000), computer systems design and related services (+13,000),
\nand scientific research and development services (+6,000). Employment in
\nprofessional and business services is 821,000 higher than in February 2020.<\/p>\n
In May, transportation and warehousing added 47,000 jobs. Employment rose
\nin warehousing and storage (+18,000), truck transportation (+13,000), and
\nair transportation (+6,000). Employment in transportation and warehousing
\nis 709,000 above its February 2020 level.<\/p>\n
Employment in construction increased by 36,000 in May, following no change
\nin April. In May, job gains occurred in specialty trade contractors (+17,000)
\nand heavy and civil engineering construction (+11,000). Construction
\nemployment is 40,000 higher than in February 2020.<\/p>\n
In May, employment increased by 36,000 in state government education and
\nby 33,000 in private education. Employment changed little in local
\ngovernment education (+14,000). Compared with February 2020, employment
\nin state government education is up by 27,000, while employment in private
\neducation has essentially recovered. Employment in local government
\neducation is down by 308,000, or 3.8 percent, compared with February 2020.<\/p>\n
Employment in health care rose by 28,000 in May, including a gain in hospitals
\n(+16,000). Employment in health care overall is 223,000, or 1.3 percent,
\nlower than in February 2020.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing employment continued to trend up in May (+18,000). Job gains
\noccurred in fabricated metal products (+7,000), wood products (+4,000),
\nand electronic instruments (+3,000). Employment in manufacturing overall
\nis slightly below (-17,000 or -0.1 percent) its February 2020 level. <\/p>\n
Wholesale trade added 14,000 jobs in May, including gains in durable goods
\n(+10,000) and electronic markets and agents and brokers (+6,000). Employment
\nin wholesale trade is down by 41,000, or 0.7 percent, compared with February
\n2020.<\/p>\n
Mining employment increased by 6,000 in May and is 80,000 higher than a recent
\nlow in February 2021. <\/p>\n
Employment in retail trade declined by 61,000 in May but is 159,000 above
\nits February 2020 level. Over the month, job losses occurred in general
\nmerchandise stores (-33,000), clothing and clothing accessories stores
\n(-9,000), food and beverage stores (-8,000), building material and garden
\nsupply stores (-7,000), and health and personal care stores (-5,000). <\/p>\n
In May, employment showed little change in other major industries, including
\ninformation, financial activities, and other services.<\/p>\n
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose
\nby 10 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $31.95 in May. Over the past 12 months, average
\nhourly earnings have increased by 5.2 percent. In May, average hourly earnings
\nof private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees rose by 15 cents,
\nor 0.6 percent, to $27.33. (See tables B-3 and B-8.) <\/p>\n
In May, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls
\nwas 34.6 hours for the third month in a row. In manufacturing, the average
\nworkweek for all employees was little changed at 40.4 hours, and overtime fell
\nby 0.1 hour to 3.2 hours. The average workweek for production and nonsupervisory
\nemployees on private nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged at 34.1 hours. (See
\ntables B-2 and B-7.) <\/p>\n
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for March was revised down
\nby 30,000, from +428,000 to +398,000, and the change for April was revised
\nup by 8,000, from +428,000 to +436,000. With these revisions, employment in
\nMarch and April combined is 22,000 lower than previously reported. (Monthly
\nrevisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government
\nagencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of
\nseasonal factors.)<\/p>\n
_____________
\nThe Employment Situation for June is scheduled to be released on Friday,
\nJuly 8, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n