August 7, 2000 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Payroll employment in July

Total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 108,000 in July. Private-sector employment rose by 138,000, but this was more than offset by a decline in federal government employment, as 290,000 temporary workers hired for the decennial census completed their work.

Over-the-month change in payroll employment, total, total private, and government, May-July 2000 (seasonally adjusted)
[Chart data—TXT]

Within the goods-producing industries, employment in manufacturing grew by 46,000 in July, after showing little growth over the first 6 months of 2000. Within the service-producing sector, retail trade employment increased by 49,000 in July, as eating and drinking places experienced strong job growth for the second consecutive month.

These data are a product of the BLS Current Employment Statistics Program. Find out more in "The Employment Situation: July 2000," news release USDL 00-220.