U.S. Job Gains of 130,000 in August Fall Short of Wall Street’s Expectations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 130,000 in August, and the unemployment rate held steady at 3.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Friday morning. The job gains fell short of Wall Street’s expectations of 150,000. A closer look at the data shows the private sector added 96,000 jobs, while government added 34,000 jobs, including 28,000 at the federal level and 6,000 at the state level. The growth in federal government jobs largely reflected the hiring of temporary workers for the 2020 U.S. Census. In the private sector, notable job gains occurred in professional and business services (+37,000), healthcare (+24,000) and financial activities (+15,000). Retail trade employment declined by 11,000 in August, while mining employment fell by 6,000. Employment gains in June and July were 20,000 fewer than previously reported as a result of revisions to the data, according to the BLS. In August, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 11 cents to $28.11, following 9-cent gains in both June and July. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.2 percent.