September 06, 2006 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Payrolls in August

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 128,000 in August 2006 to 135.5 million. This increase was roughly in line with the average monthly gain for the 4-month period from April to July.

[Chart data—TXT]

A year earlier, the number of unemployed persons was 7.4 million, and Job growth averaged 169,000 a month for the year ending in March.

In August, education and health services continued to add jobs with a gain of 60,000. Employment in food services and drinking places continued to trend up in August, as did employment in professional and business services.

In the goods-producing sector, mining added 5,000 jobs in August. Within manufacturing, job losses in motor vehicles and parts, wood products, furniture and related products, and paper and paper products more than offset small gains elsewhere.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and are seasonally adjusted. More information can be found in "The Employment Situation: August 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-1542.

Related TED article:

• Unemployment in August 2006