Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Labor Line

June 2025_________________________ 

Labor line has job news and commentary with a one stop short cut for America’s job markets and job related data including the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

This month's job and employment summary data are below and this month's inflation data is below that. 

The latest blog entry The Trump Recession Watch


Click here for a review of the Blog author's new book The Fight Over Jobs, 1877-2024 The book is available for $19.99 as a special offer to bloggers from this site Buy the Book

The Establishment Job Report with data released June 6, 2025.

   Current Job and Employment Data 

Jobs

Total Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up 139,000 to 159,561,000

Total Private Jobs up 140,000 to 135,968,000

Total Government Employment down 1,000 to 23,593,000 Note 

Civilian Non-Institutional Population up 188 thousand to 273,385,000

Civilian Labor Force down 599 thousand to 170,510,000

Employed down 671 thousand to 163,273,000

Employed Men down 238 thousand to 86,486,000

Employed Women down 433 thousand to 76,787,000

Unemployed up 72 thousand to 7,237,000

Not in the Labor Force up 787 thousand to 102,875,000

Unemployment Rate stayed the same at 4.2% or 7,237/170,150

Labor Force Participation Rate went down .2% to 62.4%, or 170,150/273,385

Prices and inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all Urban Consumers was up by a monthly average of 2.9 percent for 2024. 

The CPI June report for the 12 months ending with May shows the 

CPI for All Items was up 2.3% 

CPI for Food and Beverages was up 2.8% 

CPI for Housing was up 4.0% 

CPI for Apparel was down .9% 

CPI for Transportation including gasoline was down 1.3% 

CPI for Medical Care was up 2.5% 

CPI for Recreation was up 1.8% 

CPI for Education was up 3.6% 

CPI for Communication was down 2.1% 

This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report

SOME OMINIOUS SIGNS

The Bureau of Labor Statistics published its June report for jobs in May. The employed declined by 671 thousand, as 599 thousand of them left their jobs and the labor force while 72 thousand became unemployed. The increase in the unemployed was enough to offset the decline in the labor force to keep the unemployment rate steady at 4.2%. The participation rate decreased .2% to 62.4 percent, a very low rate.

The seasonally adjusted total of establishment employment was up 139 thousand for May. The increase was 145 thousand more jobs in the private service sector combined with a decrease of 5 thousand jobs from goods production. The total of 140 thousand jobs gained in the private sector combined with a(n) decrease of 1 thousand government service jobs accounts for the total increase.

Goods production decreased by 5 thousand jobs. Natural resources dropped a thousand jobs while construction added a net of just 3.9 thousand jobs. In construction, residential specialty trade contractors lost 11.0 thousand jobs offset by job gains of 4.5 thousand in nonresidential specialty trade contractors and 6.7 thousand new jobs in construction of buildings. Heavy and engineering construction added 3.7 thousand jobs. Not a good month in construction.

Manufacturing lost a net of 8 thousand jobs. Durable goods were down 7 thousand where machinery jobs were down 7.3 thousand to account for most of the manufacturing job losses but no durable goods manufacturing sub sectors did well. Non-durable goods production was down a net of 1 thousand jobs. Food manufacturing added 3.9 thousand jobs, but no other non-durable goods sub sector did well; all but one lost jobs.

Government service employment decreased a net of a thousand jobs, but federal government employment dropped 22 thousand jobs. State government had no new jobs and local government added 21 thousand jobs. State and local government jobs excluding education increased by 23.8 thousand while both state and local government public education had lower employment, a loss of 3.2 thousand jobs. Private sector education added 8.7 thousand seasonally adjusted jobs, which brings the total of education to a net increase of 5.5 thousand jobs.

Health care took first place again for private service sector job gains with 78.3 thousand new jobs, up from last month. All four of the health care subsectors had more jobs with ambulatory care adding 28.7 thousand jobs; hospitals added 29.9 thousand jobs, a good month for hospitals; nursing and residential care were up 3.6 thousand jobs. Social assistance services added 16.1 thousand jobs, more than last month. Individual and family services had 15.6 thousand of the social service jobs. The growth rate for health care was up from last month to 4.05 percent, but still above the average of 2.20 percent per month of the last 15 years. Health care continues to have a larger and larger share of America’s jobs.

Leisure and hospitality added 48 thousand jobs. Arts, entertainment and recreation had 16.6 thousand of the jobs and accommodations and restaurants added 31.4 thousand more. The amusements, gambling and recreation sub sector adding 9.7 thousand of the arts, entertainment and recreation jobs; restaurants added 30.2 thousand jobs.

Trade, transportation and utilities had 4 thousand new jobs, way down from last month. While wholesale trade added 2.5 thousand jobs, retail trade dropped 6.5 thousand jobs. No retail trade sub sectors did well. Transportation added only 5.8 thousand jobs, after last month’s much bigger increase. Among modal transportation, air travel added 3.7 thousand new jobs. Couriers and messengers added 6.5 thousand jobs but warehousing and storage dropped 5.1 thousand jobs. Utilities were up 2.2 thousand jobs, a much larger than usual increase.

Professional and business services was down 18 thousand jobs, after last month’s modest gain. The professional and technical services subsector was down 1.9 thousand jobs in a poor month; where management of companies added 4.7 thousand jobs, more than usual for managing. The third sub sector, administrative and support services including waste management, was off 20.6 thousand jobs.

Among professional and technical services, only accounting and bookkeeping services did well adding a modest 3.1 thousand jobs. Otherwise scientific research and development services were off 3.9 thousand jobs, consistent with the Trump onslaught. Legal services added 1.1 thousand jobs but no other professional services did well. Among administrative support services, the primary job losses came in employment services, down 16.7 thousand jobs. No administrative sub sectors did well.

Information services had 2 thousand new jobs. Computing, data processing and web hosting had 3.2 thousand jobs while telecommunications was down 3.9 thousand jobs among other small job gains. Financial activities including real estate and rental and leasing services added 13 thousand jobs. Finance and insurance added 8.4 thousand jobs. Insurance companies had 5.3 thousand of the new finance jobs. Real estate had 1.3 thousand new jobs and rental and leasing services added another 2.9 thousand new jobs. The category, other, added 9 thousand jobs with all three sub sectors adding jobs; repair and maintenance services had 2.6 thousand new jobs, personal and laundry services another 3.2 thousand jobs while non-profit membership associations added 3.0 thousand jobs.  

The economy added 139 thousand jobs for May, down from last month. Establishment employment in May was 159.561 million with an annual growth rate of 1.05 percent, near population growth. Health care continued to have the biggest share of job growth with 56 percent of new jobs in May. Attacking Medicaid and Medicare and health care in general will be devastating for jobs. Job gains were concentrated in just three sectors or sub sectors: 87 percent in health care, restaurants and financial services. Key sectors continue to do poorly, especially professional and business services, trade and manufacturing. Tariffs?? This month’s job total is 1.733 million above May a year ago and 3.774 million jobs above May two years ago. Both of these totals are less than last month, another bad sign for jobs.

May Details 

Non Farm Total +139

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from April by 139 thousand jobs for a(n) May total of 159.561 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 139 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of +1.05% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning May 2024 was +1.10%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning May 2020 was +3.71%; from 15 years ago beginning May 2010 it was +1.34%. The high five year growth rate  derives from the low Pandemic employment. America needs growth around 1.5 percent a year to keep itself employed.

Sector breakdown for 12 Sectors in 000’s of jobs 

1. Natural Resources -1

Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining decreased 1 thousand from April with 625 thousand jobs in May. A decrease of 1 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.92 percent.   Natural resource jobs were up 1 thousand from a year ago. Jobs in 2000 averaged around 600 thousand with little prospect for growth.  This is the smallest of 12 major sectors of the economy with .4 percent of establishment jobs.

2. Construction +4

Construction jobs were up 4 thousand from April with 8.314 million jobs in May. An increase of 4 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.58 percent.  Construction jobs are up 126 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.77%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.2 percent of non-farm employment.

3. Manufacturing -8

Manufacturing jobs were down 8 thousand from April with 12.761 million jobs in May. A decrease of 8 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.75 percent.  Manufacturing jobs were down for the last 12 months by 88 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.68%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 8.0 percent of establishment jobs.

4. Trade, Transportation & Utility +4

Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 4 thousand jobs from April with 29.097 million jobs in May. An increase of 4 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.16 percent. Jobs are up by 162 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 15 years are +1.13 percent. Jobs in these sectors rank first as the biggest sectors with combined employment of 18.2 percent of total establishment employment.

5. Information Services +2

Information Services jobs were up 2 thousand from April with 2.940 million jobs in May.  (Note 2 below)  An increase of 2 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.82 percent. Jobs are down by 13 thousand for the last 12 months. Information jobs reached 3.7 million at the end of 2000, but started dropping, reaching 3 million by 2004 and has slowly come back to 3.0 million in the last decade. Information Services is a small sector ranking 11th of 12 with 1.8 percent of establishment jobs.

6. Financial Activities +13

Financial Activities jobs were up by 13 thousand jobs from April to 9.254 million in May. An increase of 13 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.69 percent. Jobs are up 95 thousand for the last 12 months.  (Note 3 below) This sector also includes real estate as well as real estate lending. The 15 year growth rate is +1.23 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.

7. Business and Professional Services -18

Business and Professional Service jobs went down 18 thousand from April to 22.575 million in May. A decrease of 18 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.96 percent. Jobs are down 81 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was +2.05 percent. It ranks as 2nd among the 12 sectors now. It was 2nd in 1993, when manufacturing was bigger and third rank now with 14.2 percent of establishment employment. 

8. Education including public and private +6

Education jobs were up 6 thousand jobs from April at 14.858 million in May. An increase of 6 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.44 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are up 188 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.60 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.3 percent of establishment jobs.

9. Health Care +78

Health care jobs were up 78 thousand from April to 23.289 million in May. An increase of 78 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +4.05 percent. Jobs are up 854 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6)  The health care long term 15 year growth rate has been +2.20 percent lately compared to +3.02 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 14.5 percent of establishment jobs.

10. Leisure and hospitality +48

Leisure and hospitality jobs were up 48 thousand from April to 17.053 million in May.  (note 7) An increase of 48 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.39 percent. Jobs are up 262 thousand for the last 12 months. More than 80 percent of leisure and hospitality are accommodations and restaurants assuring that most of the new jobs are in restaurants. Leisure and hospitality ranks 4th of 12 with 10.7 percent of establishment jobs. It moved up to 7th from 4th in the pandemic decline.

11. Other +9

Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 9 thousand from April to 6.039 million in May. An increase of 9 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.79 percent. Jobs are up 76 thousand for the last 12 months. (Note 8) Other services had +.84 percent growth for the last 15 years. These sectors rank 10th of 12 with 3.8 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.

12. Government, excluding education +2

Government service employment went up 2 thousand from April at 12.756 million jobs in May. An increase of 2 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.17 percent. Jobs are up 150 thousand for the last 12 months.  (note 9) Government jobs excluding education tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.10 percent. Government, excluding education, ranks 7th of 12 with 8.0 percent of total non-farm establishment jobs.

Sector Notes__________________________


(1) The total cited above is non-farm establishment employment that counts jobs and not people. If one person has two jobs then two jobs are counted. It excludes agricultural employment and the self employed. Out of a total of people employed agricultural employment typically has about 1.5 percent, the self employed about 6.8 percent, the rest make up wage and salary employment. Jobs and people employed are close to the same, but not identical numbers because jobs are not the same as people employed: some hold two jobs. Remember all these totals are jobs. back

(2) Information Services is part of the new North American Industry Classification System(NAICS). It includes firms or establishments in publishing, motion picture & sound recording, broadcasting, Internet publishing and broadcasting, telecommunications, ISPs, web search portals, data processing, libraries, archives and a few others.back

(3) Financial Activities includes deposit and non-deposit credit firms, most of which are still known as banks, savings and loan and credit unions, but also real estate firms and general and commercial rental and leasing.back

(4) Business and Professional services includes the professional areas such as legal services, architecture, engineering, computing, advertising and supporting services including office services, facilities support, services to buildings, security services, employment agencies and so on.back

(5) Education includes private and public education. Therefore education job totals include public schools and colleges as well as private schools and colleges. back

(6) Health care includes ambulatory care, private hospitals, nursing and residential care, and social services including child care. back

(7) Leisure and hospitality has establishment with arts, entertainment and recreation which has performing arts, spectator sports, gambling, fitness centers and others, which are the leisure part. The hospitality part has accommodations, motels, hotels, RV parks, and full service and fast food restaurants. back

(8) Other is a smorgasbord of repair and maintenance services, especially car repair, personal services and non-profit services of organizations like foundations, social advocacy and civic groups, and business, professional, labor unions, political groups and political parties. back

(9) Government job totals include federal, state, and local government administrative work but without education jobs. back

top

Notes

Jobs are not the same as employment because jobs are counted once but one person could have two jobs adding one to employment but two to jobs. Also the employment numbers include agricultural workers, the self employed, unpaid family workers, household workers and those on unpaid leave. Jobs are establishment jobs and non-other. back

top

Monday, June 9, 2025

Sherburn on Cowardice Old and New

 

Sherburn on Cowardice Old and New

Colonel Sherburn – a proud looking man about 55 – and he was a heap and the best dressed man in that town.

Do I know you? I know you clear through. I was born and raised in the South, and I’ve lived in the North; so I know the average all around. The average man’s a coward. In the North he lets anybody walk over him that wants to, and goes home and pray for a humble spirit to bear it. In the South one man, all by himself, has stopped a stage full of men in daytime and robbed the lot. Your newspapers call you a brave people so much that you think you are braver than any other people – where as you’re just as brave and no braver. Why don’t your juries hang murderers? Because their afraid the man’s friends will shoot them in the back, in the dark – and it’s just what they would do.

. . . The average man don’t like trouble and danger. But if only half a man – like Buck Harkness there – shouts ‘Lynch him! Lynch him!’ you’re afraid to back down – afraid to be found out for what you are – cowards – and so you raise a yell, and hang yourself onto that half-a-man’s coattail, and come raging up here, swearing what big things you’re going to do. The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that’s what an army is – a mob; they don’t fight with courage that’s born in them, but from courage that’s borrowed from their mass, and from their officers.

------------From Colonel Sherburn’s slow and scornful speech, Chapter 22, of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.