The U.S. economy gained 339,000 jobs in May, and the unemployment rate was up slightly to 3.7%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows there is still room to expand job opportunities for Americans. Wage growth continues at levels that are consistent with low levels of inflation.
May's biggest job gains were in professional and business services (+64,000), government (+56,000), health care (+52,000), leisure and hospitality (+48,000), construction (+25,000), transportation and warehousing (+24,000), and social assistance (+22,000). Employment was little changed over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade; information; financial activities; and other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for Black Americans (5.6%) and adult women (3.3%) rose in May. The jobless rates for teenagers (10.3%), Hispanics (4.0%), adult men (3.5%), White Americans (3.3%), and Asian Americans (2.9%) showed little change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in May and accounted for 19.8% of the total people unemployed.