Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 169,000 in August, about in line with the average monthly gain of 184,000 over the prior 12 months. The unemployment rate was little changed at 7.3%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

August saw that job growth occurred in retail trade and healthcare, while employment in information declined. Employment continued to trend up in food services and drinking places, professional and business services and wholesale trade.

Retail trade added 44,000 jobs in August and has added 393,000 jobs over the past 12 months. Employment in healthcare increased by 33,000 in August. In August, employment in professional and business services continued to trend up (+23,000). Over the past 12 months, this industry has added 614,000 jobs. Employment in temporary help services changed little in August.

Within leisure and hospitality, employment in food services and drinking places continued to trend up in August (+21,000). Last month, wholesale trade employment also continued to trend up (+8,000).

Within manufacturing, employment in motor vehicles and parts rose by 19,000 in August, after declining by 10,000 in July. Auto manufacturers laid off more workers for model changeover in July than in recent years.
The return of laid-off workers contributed to the increase in August.
Over the past 12 months, auto manufacturers have added 34,000 jobs.

Within information, the motion picture and sound recording industry lost 22,000 jobs in August, following a gain of 8,000 in July.

To read the full Labor Statistics release, click here.