Where people found jobs: Business services and health care

Hiring decelerated in most major industry sectors in May, with four such sectors recording job losses.

Professional services led the gains, adding 33,000 jobs in such areas as computer systems design, administrative support and engineering. Education and health added 27,000 jobs, a notably weaker gain than the 73,000 jobs it added in April.

By contrast, construction companies pulled back sharply and grew by just 4,000 jobs after posting a gain of 30,000 in May. Retail, transportation, information and government all shed jobs.

Overall, U.S. employers added only 75,000 jobs in May amid slower global growth and widening trade conflicts. The unemployment rate held steady at 3.6%, the Labor Department said Friday.

Industry (change from previous month)
May 2019
April 2019
Past 12 months

Construction
4,000
30,000
215,000

Manufacturing
3,000
5,000
184,000

Retail
-7,600
-13,600
-75,700

Transportation, warehousing
-200
6,700
147,600

Information (Telecom, publishing)
-5,000
-10,000
-34,000

Financial services
2,000
13,000
96,000

Professional services (Accounting, engineering, temp work)
33,000
62,000
498,000

Education and health
27,000
73,000
590,000

Hotels, restaurants, entertainment
26,000
17,000
421,000

Government
-15,000
19,000
87,000

Source: Labor Department

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