A review of the major industry trends
Private payrolls increased by 308,000 workers, the smallest increase in 16 months. Government payrolls rose by 7,000. Service-providing industries added 263,000 positions, while goods producers hired 69,000 workers for the second month in a row.
Within education/health services, health care remained a big job contributor in August, adding 61,500 jobs, the most of any sub-industry group in August by more than 20,000. This is a very good sign insofar as health care services account for roughly 25% of the total economy. Moreover, this segment has lagged the overall recovery, including three months of job losses during 2021.
However, education was particularly weak, both private and government. Local and state schools shed 14,000 and 5,000, respectively. Private education added 6,000, which was the fewest hired in 20 months. We remain perplexed by this development insofar as U.S. schools typically add positions during August. Excluding education, government payrolls increased by a solid 26,000 workers in August, mostly on the local level; federal lost 2,000 during the month.
Professional & business services also added 68,000. Computer-related and consulting services hired 27,500 combined, accounting for more than 40% of the industry’s gains.
Retailers were uncharacteristically strong, adding 44,000 in August, the most in six months. More than a third (15,000) were hired by general merchandise stores, which garnered headlines in the spring with layoffs from several high-profile companies. Perhaps those firms cut more than necessary in the spring, or sales may be stronger than they anticipated.
Hiring in the leisure & hospitality industry slowed considerably, adding 31,000 workers during the month, the fewest in 20 months by more than 10,000. That said, the industry typically begins to cutback hiring as the busy summer season draws to a close.
Otherwise, employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including professional & business services.
Chart describes changes in payroll in August 2022: 6-month average fell to the slowest pace since the reopening period in 2020. Also, downward revisions of 107K for June and July. Pre-pandemic 3-year average was 181K/mo; Unemployment rate: It was the first increase in the unemployment rate from the lows of this cycle; Labor force participation rate: Still 1% below 2019 level, but the second-largest monthly increase (786,000) in the labor force in the past 26 months; Average hourly earnings year-over-year: Steady for three months. Non-supervisory stayed to 6.2% YoY from a near-term high of 6.7% in March. Still, it remains well above pre-pandemic 10-year average of 2.4%: Average weekly hours worked: It fell month over month, though it’s in-line with the pre-pandemic average. Manufacturing hours also slipped, to 40.3.