For once the ADP was actually spot on: in June the US economy added 288K nonfarm payrolls, far above the 215K expected, and above the upward revised 224K from June. Further, May jobs were revised from 282K to 204K. This was the fifth consecutive month of job gains over 200K. The unemployment rate tumbled to 6.1%, well below the 6.3% expected. The brth/death adjustment [4]added 121K jobs, compared to 205K previously, and a total of 452K so far in 2014.
Private Payrolls rose 262K, above the 215K expected. Average hourly earnings rose as expected 0.2% from June and 2.0% from a year ago, marginally higher than the 1.9% expected. Finally the weekly hours worked for all employees was 34.5%, same as expected and the same as last month.
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But perhaps far more importantly, average weekly earnings rose just 2.0% Y/Y, down from 2.1% in May, and effectively declining once again on a real basis, which means that for three months in a row now US workers have seen their wages drop adjusted for inflation.
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From the report [7]:
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 288,000 in June. Over the past 3 months, job growth has averaged 272,000 per month. In June, employment growth was widespread, led by gains in professional and business services, retail trade, food services and drinking places, and health care. (See table B-1.)
Employment in professional and business services rose by 67,000 in June and had averaged 53,000 per month over the prior 12 months. In June, employment within the industry increased in management and technical consulting services (+8,000), architectural and engineering services (+7,000), and computer systems design and related services (+7,000). Employment continued to trend up in temporary help services.
Retail trade employment increased by 40,000 in June. Over the prior 12 months, employment in this industry had grown by an average of 26,000 per month. In June, job growth in the industry occurred in motor vehicle and parts dealers (+12,000), building material and garden supply stores (+8,000), and electronics and appliance stores (+7,000).
Employment in food services and drinking places rose by 33,000 in June and has increased by 314,000 over the past year.
Health care employment increased by 21,000 in June, about in line with the prior 12-month average gain of 18,000 per month. Within health care, employment continued to trend up in ambulatory health care services (+13,000) and in nursing and residential care facilities (+6,000).
Transportation and warehousing employment increased by 17,000 in June. Over the prior 12 months, this industry had added an average of 11,000 jobs per month. In June, couriers and messengers added 6,000 jobs.
Financial activities added 17,000 jobs in June, with a gain of 9,000 in insurance carriers and related activities. Employment in real estate and rental and leasing continued to trend up in June (+9,000). Financial activities had added an average of 5,000 jobs per month over the prior 12 months.
Manufacturing added 16,000 jobs in June, with all of the increase in durable goods manufacturing. Within durable goods, employment increased in motor vehicles and parts (+6,000) and in computer and peripheral equipment (+3,000).
Wholesale trade added 15,000 jobs over the month and has added 140,000 jobs over the year.
Employment changed little over the month in other major industries, including mining and logging, construction, information, and government.
