Posted September 2, 2011
Unemployment rate refuses to fall
Manufacturing and construction industries both lost jobs in August, following gains in the previous month, as the nation's unemployment rate remained unchaged.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today that the total nonfarm unemployment rate remained at 9.1%.
Manufacturing employment fell by 3,000 jobs during August, following a gain of 36,000 in July. For the past four months, manufacturing has added an average of 14,000 jobs per month, compared with an average of 35,000 jobs per month in the first four months of the year. Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction; trade, transportation, and utilities; financial activities; and leisure andhospitality changed little over the month.
Construction industry employment fell by 5,000 jobs for the month, after gaining 7,000 jobs in July.
Employment in mining continued to trend up in August (+6,000). Since reaching a trough in October 2009, employment in mining has risen by 144,000, with mining support activities accounting for most of the gain.
