The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employers added 850,000 jobs in June as the U.S. economy continues to recover from pandemic-related disruption. These gains outpace many analysts’ expectations that U.S. employers would expand payrolls by about 700,000 positions.

The latest jobs report also notes that new job creation in April and May was higher than previously reported — by 15,000 positions. With these adjustments, the U.S. economy has seen employment rise by nearly 3.3 million jobs since the beginning of 2021.

Leisure and hospitality leads in job gains

Leisure and hospitality employers, whose businesses have acutely felt the economic impact of the pandemic, led payroll expansion in June — adding 343,000 jobs. The following industries also saw notable job gains last month, according to the latest jobs report from the BLS:

  • Government: 188,000 jobs added
  • Professional and business services: 72,000 jobs added (including 33,000 positions in temporary help services)
  • Retail trade: 67,100 jobs added
  • Education and health services: 59,000 jobs added
  • Wholesale trade: 21,300 jobs added
  • Manufacturing: 15,000 jobs added
  • Information: 14,000 jobs added

Unemployment ticks up slightly to 5.9%

The unemployment rate last month was 5.9%, rising slightly from 5.8% in May.

The unemployment rate for college-degreed workers who are 25 or older also increased in June. The rate was 3.5%, up from 3.2% in May. These workers are in highest demand by employers.

Percentage of people teleworking decreases

The BLS also reports that in May, 14.4% of employed persons teleworked because of the coronavirus pandemic, down from 16.6% in the prior month.

The BLS describes these workers as employed persons who teleworked or worked at home for pay at some point in the last four weeks specifically because of the pandemic.

Separate BLS data shows millions of jobs remain open

The BLS released its latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report in June, showing that there were 9.3 million job openings in the United States on the last business day of April. This figure marked a high for the JOLTS series, which the BLS launched in December 2000.

Get insight into the latest hiring trends

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