Where Americans Found Jobs: Business Services and Factories

Professional and business services drove nearly a quarter of U.S. job growth in June.

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Professional and business services drove nearly a quarter of U.S. job growth in June. The category, which includes computer systems designers, engineers, consultants and administrative staff, added 50,000 jobs during a robust month of hiring. Over the past year, it has added more than a half-million jobs.

Manufacturing added 36,000 jobs, the most since December. Over the past 12 months, this sector has gained 285,000 jobs, with about three-quarters of them involving durable goods such as metal products, computer parts and cars.

On the losing end was retail, which shed 21,600 jobs in June, mainly at general merchandise stores. That loss wiped out most of the 25,000 jobs the sector had added in May.

Overall, U.S. employers added 213,000 jobs in June. The unemployment rate rose to 4 percent, the Labor Department said Friday.

Industry (change from previous month) June 2018 May 2018 Past 12 months
Construction 13,000 29,000 282,000
Manufacturing 36,000 19,000 285,000
Retail -21,600 25,100 82,900
Transportation, warehousing 15,400 17,600 164,200
Information (Telecom, publishing) 0 0 -28,000
Financial services 8,000 17,000 -61,000
Professional services (Accounting, engineering, temp work) 50,000 43,000 521,000
Education and health 54,000 40,000 445,000
Hotels, restaurants, entertainment 25,000 28,000 261,000
Government 11,000 5,000 17,000
Source: Labor Department
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