Auguat 2025_________________________
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This month's job and employment summary data are below and this month's inflation data is below that.
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The Establishment Job Report with data released August 1, 2025.
Current Job and Employment Data
Jobs
Total Non-Farm Establishment Jobs up 73,000 to 159,539,000
Total Private Jobs up
83,000 to 135,970,000
Total Government Employment down 10,000 to 23,569,000 Note
Civilian Non-Institutional Population up 200 thousand to 273,785,000
Civilian Labor Force down
38 thousand to 170,342,000
Employed down 260
thousand to 163,106,000
Employed Men down
228 thousand to 86,347,000
Employed Women
down 31 thousand to 76,760,000
Unemployed up
221 thousand to 7,236,000
Not in the Labor Force up 239 thousand to 103,443,000
Unemployment Rate
went up .1% to 4.2% 7,236/170,342
Labor Force Participation Rate went down .1% to 62.2%, or 170,342/273,785
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 August report for the 12 months ending with July shows the
CPI for All Items was up 2.7%
CPI for Food and Beverages was up 2.8%
CPI for Housing was up 3.9%
CPI for Apparel was up 2.2%
CPI for Transportation including gasoline was up/down 0.0%
CPI for Medical Care was up 3.5%
CPI for Recreation was up 2.4%
CPI for Education was up 3.7%
CPI for Communication was down 2.2%
This Month’s Establishment Jobs Press Report
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published its August report for jobs in July. The civilian population increased by 200 thousand, but those not in the labor force increased by 239 thousand. The unemployed increased by 221 thousand while the employed declined by 260 thousand. The difference of 39 thousand totals the number that left the labor force and stopped looking for work. The large increase in the unemployed and the decrease in the employed combined to increase the unemployment rate .1% to 4.2%. The participation rate decreased .1% to 62.2 percent, a low rate that keeps getting lower.
Goods production decreased by a net
of 13 thousand jobs. Natural resources dropped 4 thousand jobs, mostly in
mining support jobs. In construction, heavy and engineering construction had 6
thousand new jobs, but jobs in residential specialty trade contractors and
construction and buildings were both down leaving a net increase of 2 thousand
construction jobs. Manufacturing lost a net of 10 thousand jobs. Durable goods employment
remained unchanged with a few small job increases offset by job losses in
machinery manufacturing and motor vehicle parts manufacturing; no durable goods
manufacturing sub sectors did well. Non-durable goods production was down a net
of 11 thousand jobs. Food processing and paper manufacturing lost the most jobs
but no other non-durable goods sub sector did well.
Government service employment decreased
a net of 10 thousand jobs, but federal government employment dropped 12
thousand jobs. State government had 5 thousand new jobs and local government dropped
a net of 3 thousand jobs. State and local government jobs excluding education
increased by 13.4 thousand while both state and local public education lost
job: state government education down 1.2 thousand jobs, local public education down
10.4 thousand jobs. Private sector education added 5.8 thousand seasonally adjusted
jobs, which brings the total of education to a net decrease of 5.8 thousand
jobs, or (5.8-1.2-10.4 = 5.8)
Health care took first place again for
private service sector job gains with 73.3 thousand new jobs, up slightly from
last month. As usual all four of the health care subsectors had more jobs with
ambulatory care adding 33.6 thousand jobs; hospitals added 16.0 thousand jobs,
a good month for hospitals; nursing and residential care were up 5.8 thousand
jobs. Social assistance services added a net of 17.9 thousand jobs because individual
and family services had 20.6 thousand new jobs offset by a decline of jobs in
vocational rehabilitation and child care. The growth rate for health care was up
from last month to 3.77 percent, above the average of 2.23 percent per month of
the last 15 years. For the first time in 28 years of Labor Line, health care
had more than 100 percent of the new job total.
Trade, transportation and utilities had
11 thousand new jobs. Wholesale trade and retail trade had a net loss of 7.9
thousand jobs. Warehouse clubs and general merchandise stores added 10.7
thousand jobs but no other trade sub sectors did well. Transportation added a
net of 3.6 thousand jobs.Modal transportation added 3.4 thousand jobs while couriers
and messengers added 6.0 thousand jobs offset with a loss of 6.4 thousand warehousing
and storage jobs. Utilities lost a hundred jobs.
Leisure and hospitality added 5
thousand jobs, much less than normal. Arts, entertainment and recreation had
only 700 of the jobs with accommodations and restaurants adding a net 4.8 thousand
more. Restaurants lost 300 jobs, a rare decline while accommodations had 5.1
thousand of the new jobs, an unusual increase.
Professional and business services had
yet another month of job losses, this month down 14 thousand jobs, a bigger
loss than last month. The professional and technical services subsector was up a
net 3.1 thousand jobs in a poor month; where management of companies had 1.8
thousand more jobs. The third sub sector, administrative and support services
including waste management, lost 19.1 thousand jobs in another poor month for support
services.
Among professional and technical
services, only architectural and engineering services did well, up 6.7 thousand
jobs. Computer systems design and related services lost 5.2 thousand jobs Management
scientific, technical, and consulting services were also down 2.6 thousand jobs
and no other professional services did well. Possibly victims of the Trump
onslaught.
Among administrative support
services, a few small sub sector job gains did not offset job losses in
employment services and temporary help services, down 7.2 thousand jobs, a
second month of job losses. Services to buildings and dwellings were down 7.9 thousand
jobs; business support services were down 5.7 thousand jobs.
Information
services dropped 2 thousand new jobs. Motion picture and sound recordings had
2.5 thousand new jobs while no other sub sectors did well. Financial activities
including real estate and rental and leasing services added 15 thousand jobs,
better than last month. Finance and insurance had 14.2 thousand of the new jobs.
Include insurance carriers with 7.5 thousand jobs and securities and related
activities with 4.8 thousand jobs in this total. Real estate and rental and
leasing services were up slightly with 1.3 thousand new jobs. The category,
other, had a net of 2 thousand new jobs. Personal and laundry services added
2.4 thousand jobs offset with job losses in repair and maintenance services and
non-profit associations.
The
economy added only 73 thousand jobs for July. Establishment employment in July was
159.539 million with an annual growth rate of just .55 percent, less than half
what is necessary to sustain full employment. The total of new establishment
jobs has not been this low since the pandemic. The increase in health care jobs
slightly exceeded the total of new jobs for this month for the first time ever.
July illustrates the folly of attacking health care. Only one other sub sector,
financial activities, had new jobs close to a normal increase. There were five
sub sectors with job losses and three more with only one or two thousand new
jobs. Professional jobs outside of health care have stopped growing, a bad sign
for college graduates. This month’s job
total is 1.536 million above July a year ago and 3.328 million jobs above July
two years ago. Both
are lower this month than last. Expect these numbers to decline as private
sector employment continues to fall in a depressed economy.
July Details
Non Farm Total +73
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Non-Farm employment for establishments increased from June by 73 thousand jobs for a(n) July total of 159.539 million. (Note 1 below) An increase of 73 thousand each month for the next 12 months represents an annual growth rate of +.55% The annual growth rate from a year ago beginning July 2024 was +.97%; the average annual growth rate from 5 years ago beginning July 2020 was +2.71%; from 15 years ago beginning July 2010 it was +1.35%. 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 -4
Natural Resources jobs including logging and mining decreased 4 thousand from June with 617 thousand jobs in July. A decrease of 4 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -7.73 percent. Natural resource jobs were down 6 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 +2
Construction jobs were up 2 thousand from June with 8.310 million jobs in July. An increase of 2 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.29 percent. Construction jobs are up 96 thousand for the 12 months just ended. The growth rate for the last 15 years is 2.78%. Construction jobs rank 9th among the 12 sectors with 5.2 percent of non-farm employment.
3. Manufacturing -10
Manufacturing jobs were down 10 thousand from June with 12.727 million jobs in July. A decrease of 10 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -1.04 percent. Manufacturing jobs were down for the last 12 months by 113 thousand. The growth rate for the last 15 years is +.64%. Manufacturing ranks 6th among 12 major sectors in the economy with 8.0 percent of establishment jobs.
4. Trade, Transportation & Utility +11
Trade, both wholesale and retail, transportation and utility employment were up 11 thousand jobs from June with 29.077 million jobs in July. An increase of 11 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.45 percent. Jobs are up by 158 thousand for last 12 months. Growth rates for the last 15 years are +1.10 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 down 2 thousand from June with 2.939 million jobs in July. (Note 2 below) A decrease of 2 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.82 percent. Jobs are up by 3 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 but has stayed close 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 +15
Financial Activities jobs were up by 15 thousand jobs from June to 9.263 million in July. An increase of 15 thousand jobs for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +1.95 percent. Jobs are up 99 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 +1.26 percent. Financial activities rank 8th of 12 with 5.8 percent of establishment jobs.
7. Business and Professional Services -14
Business and Professional Service jobs went down 14 thousand from June to 22.562 million in July. A decrease of 14 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.74 percent. Jobs are down 61 thousand for the last 12 months. Note 4 The annual growth rate for the last 15 years was +2.02 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 down 6 thousand jobs from June at 14.821 million in July. A decrease of 6 thousand jobs each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of -.47 percent. These include public and private education. Jobs are up 126 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 5) The 15 year growth rate equals +.59 percent. Education ranks 5th among 12 sectors with 9.3 percent of establishment jobs.
9. Health Care +73
Health care jobs were up 73 thousand from June to 23.409 million in July. An increase of 73 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +3.77 percent. Jobs are up 840 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 6) The health care long term 15 year growth rate has been +2.23 percent lately compared to +3.77 percent for this month’s jobs. Health care ranks 2nd of 12 with 14.5 percent of establishment jobs.
10. Leisure and hospitality +5
Leisure and hospitality jobs were up 5 thousand from June to 17.030 million in July. (note 7) An increase of 5 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.35 percent. Jobs are up 238 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 +2
Other Service jobs, which include repair, maintenance, personal services and non-profit organizations were up 2 thousand from June to 6.036 million in July. An increase of 2 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.40 percent. Jobs are up 61 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 +1
Government service employment went up 1 thousand from June at 12.747 million jobs in July. An increase of 1 thousand each month for the next 12 months would be an annual growth rate of +.13 percent. Jobs are up 94 thousand for the last 12 months. (note 9) Government jobs excluding education tend to increase slowly with a 15 year growth rate of +.31 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
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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
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