Staffing Job Growth, Still Positive, Slows in October
American staffing companies added over 11,000 jobs in October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and temporary employment increased 5.1% over October, 2004. Overall, Kathleen P. Utgoff, BLS commissioner, noted that Nonfarm payroll employment was little changed in October (56,000). That number was well off the 125,000 predicted by economists.
October’s average hourly earnings increased $.08 to $16.29, an increase of 2.9% over October, 2004 and the overall unemployment rate fell from 5.1% in September to 5.0% in October.
Employment data for selected sectors are noted below (information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site: http://www.bls.gov):
– Over the month, construction employment increased by 33,000, with much of the gain (20,000) occurring in residential specialty trade contracting. Prior to October, construction employment had been expanding by an average of 21,000 per month in 2005.
– Manufacturing added 12,000 jobs in October. Employment in transportation equipment increased by 22,000, largely due to the return of 18,000 striking workers in the aerospace industry.
– Employment in financial activities continued to grow in October, rising by 22,000. Employment gains in credit intermediation accounted for about half of the over-the-month increase.
– Health care employment also continued to grow in October, increasing by 17,000. Ambulatory health care services, which includes doctors’ offices and outpatient clinics, added 11,000 jobs. Hospitals also contributed to the employment gain with an increase of 6,000 jobs.
– Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry edged down in October, after declining by 63,000 in September.
– Retail trade employment was essentially unchanged in October following a large decline in September.
– Professional and business services employment was little changed in October. Over the last 12 months, however, the industry has added 442,000 jobs.
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