The Current Employment Standing in the U.S.
The data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the month of July was lower than expected. Only 114,00 jobs were added in July. The unemployment rate is 4.3 percent representing a slow down in growth with 62.7 percent workforce participation. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) changed little at 1.5million in July. This measure is up from 1.2 million a year earlier. The long-term unemployed accounted for 21.6 percent of all unemployed people in July. The areas that continue to show job stability are health care, construction, and in transportation and warehousing, while information lost jobs. The average hourly earnings for all employees is $35.07. African American remain the least employed racial group in the country at a steady rate of 6.3%.