The U.S. economy gained 209,000 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate was down slightly to 3.6%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This jobs report shows there is still room to expand job opportunities for Americans.
June's biggest job gains were in government (+60,000), health care (+41,000), social assistance (+24,000), construction (+23,000), professional and business services (+21,000), and leisure and hospitality (+21,000). Employment declined in retail trade (-11,000) and transportation and warehousing (-7,000). Employment showed little or no change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; information; financial activities and other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for White Americans (3.1%) declined in June. The jobless rates for teenagers (11.0%), Black Americans (6.0%), Hispanics (4.3%), adult men (3.4%), Asian Americans (3.2%) and adult women (3.1%) showed little change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in June and accounted for 18.5% of the total people unemployed.