Employers added 139,000 jobs last month, a slightly slower pace than the average 149,000 monthly gain seen over the last 12 months, according to the latest employment data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The national employment rate in May held steady at 4.2%. The unemploymment rate has remained between the range of 4.0% and 4.2% for the past 12 months.
Hiring continued to trend up in healthcare, leisure and hospitality, and social assistance. The federal government continued to lose jobs (-22,000) in May, and the federal workforce is now down 59,000 since January. However, public sector employment on the local level increased by 21,000 jobs in May, resulting in only a net loss of 1,000 public sector jobs for the month.
Healthcare added 62,000 jobs in May, higher than the average monthly gain of 44,000 over the prior 12 months. In May, job gains occurred in hospitals (+30,000), ambulatory healthcare services (+29,000), and skilled nursing care facilities (+6,000).
Employment in leisure and hospitality continued to increase in May (+48,000), largely in food services and drinking places (+30,000). Over the prior 12 months, the leisure and hospitality industry has added an average of 20,000 jobs per month.
In May, social assistance employment continued to increase (+16,000), reflecting continued growth in individual and family services (+16,000).
The temporary help services sector lost 20,200 jobs in May, contributing to a net loss of 18,000 jobs overall in the professional and business services industry for that month.
Among more tariff-sensitive industries, manufacturing had an overall loss of -8,000 jobs in May, mostly in the durable goods sector (-7,000). The construction industry gained a modest 4,000 jobs. The warehousing and transportation industry gained 5,800 overall, mostly from increased hiring in the air transportation sector and couriers and messengers.
The May report also revised downward the previous preliminary employment estimates issued for April and March by -95,000 jobs. The March data was revised down by 65,000, from +185,000 to +120,000. The April data was revised down by 30,000, from +177,000 to +147,000.
Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 15 cents to $36.24 in May, an increase of 0.4%. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.9%.
Stocks and government bond yields rose slightly after the jobs report was released Friday morning.
