WASHINGTON (AP) — For higher educated and skilled workers, April offered plenty of jobs. The landscape was tougher for blue-collar and lower paying positions.
The professional and business services industry group led the way with 65,000 added jobs. That category includes management consultants, computer engineers, designers, accountants and temporary workers.
Health care produced another stellar month, adding 44,000 jobs thanks to hiring by hospitals and clinics. The sector has added over a half-million jobs in the past year.
The retail industry, though, endured a sharp reversal of fortune in April. After adding 39,000 jobs in March, the sector lost 3,100 last month. Stores selling furniture, clothes, sporting goods and building materials all shed workers.
Construction also lost momentum, added a meager 1,000 jobs after a gain of 41,000 in March.
Overall, U.S. employers added 160,000 jobs in April, the fewest in seven months. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent.
| Industry (change from previous month) | April 2016 | March 2016 | Past 12 months |
| Construction | 1,000 | 41,000 | 261,000 |
| Manufacturing | 4,000 | -29,000 | -19,000 |
| Retail | -3,100 | 39,000 | 337,400 |
| Transportation, warehousing | 8,600 | 4,900 | 61,900 |
| Information (Telecom, publishing) | 0 | 6,000 | 35,000 |
| Financial services | 20,000 | 14,000 | 160,000 |
| Professional services (Accounting, engineering, temp work) | 65,000 | 37,000 | 611,000 |
| Education and health | 54,000 | 43,000 | 673,000 |
| Hotels, restaurants, entertainment | 22,000 | 24,000 | 449,000 |
| Government | -11,000 | 24,000 | 106,000 |
| Source: Labor Department |