The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 117,000 in July, and the unemployment rate dropped slightly to 9.1%, down from 9.2% in June.

Total private employment rose by 154,000 over the month, reflecting job gains in several major industries, including healthcare, retail trade, manufacturing, and mining. Government employment continued to decline.

In July healthcare employment grew by 31,000; retail trade by 26,000 jobs; manufacturing by 24,000; mining by 9,000; and professional and technical services by 18,000.

Elsewhere in the private sector, employment in construction, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities and leisure and hospitality changed little over the month.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for May was revised from +25,000 to +53,000, and the change for June was revised from +18,000 to +46,000, the report said.

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