August 04, 2003 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Payroll employment in July

Total nonfarm payroll employment in July was 129.9 million, down 44,000 over the month. The number of jobs has declined by 486,000 since January. Over the month, manufacturing and transportation shed jobs, but these losses were partially offset by gains in administrative services, notably in temporary help.

[Chart data—TXT]

Manufacturing employment fell by 71,000 in July. Employment in this sector has declined continuously since July 2000. Most manufacturing industries posted job losses over the month.

Transportation and warehousing employment fell by 16,000 in July. Job losses were concentrated in air transportation, where employment fell by 9,000. This industry has lost 136,000 jobs since its recent peak in March 2001.

Employment in administrative and support services rose by 85,000 over the month. Within its component industries, employment in temporary help increased for the third consecutive month, adding 42,000 jobs in July. Employment in this industry has grown by 122,000 since April.

Payroll employment data are from the Current Employment Statistics program. The above data are seasonally adjusted. Data for June and July 2003 are preliminary and subject to revision. For more information, see "The Employment Situation: July 2003" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL. 03-403.