Retail trade employment edged down by 9,000 jobs in June, after trending up earlier in the year, the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows. Losing sectors included furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliance retailers, which shed 6,000 jobs over the month, while gainers included warehouse clubs, supercenters and other general merchandise retailers, which gained 5,000 positions.
Overall, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 206,000 in June, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1 percent, the bureau reported. The main job gains occurred in government, health care, social assistance and construction.
As for wages, in June, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 10 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $35. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings have increased by 3.9 percent. In June, average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 10 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $30.05.
The bureau’s monthly report draws statistics from two monthly surveys: The household survey, which measures labor force status, including unemployment, by demographic characteristics; and the establishment survey, which measures nonfarm employment, hours, and earnings by industry.
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