∙ U.S. Employment by Industry – May 2012

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Total nonfarm payroll employment changed little in May (+69,000), following a similar change in April (+77,000). In comparison, the average monthly gain was 226,000 in the first quarter of the year. Health care employment continued to increase in May (+33,000). Over the year, health care employment has risen by 340,000. Transportation and warehousing added 36,000 jobs over the month. Employment in both industries has shown little net change over the year. In May, truck transportation added 7,000 jobs. Employment in wholesale trade rose by 16,000 over the month. Since reaching an employment low in May 2010, this industry has added 184,000 jobs. Manufacturing employment continued to trend up (+12,000) following a similar change in April (+9,000). Job gains averaged 41,000 per month in the first quarter of this year. Since its most recent low in January 2010, manufacturing employment has increased by 495,000. Construction employment declined by 28,000, with job losses occurring in specialty trade contractors (-18,000) and in heavy and civil engineering construction (-11,000). Since reaching a low in January 2011, employment in construction has shown little change on net. Employment in professional and business services was essentially unchanged. Since the most recent low point in September 2009, employment in this industry has grown by 1.4 million. Employment in other major industries, including mining and logging, retail trade, information, financial activities, leisure and hospitality, and government, changed little. USDOL Click on chart to enlarge

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