Employment edges up in May

Nonfarm employment edged up by 78,000 in May following a much larger increase in April, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.1 percent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. Payroll employment continued to grow over the month in health care and construction, but was little changed in the other major industry sectors.

In the goods-producing sector, construction employment continued to grow in May (20,000). Within this industry, a gain of 26,000 jobs among residential specialty trade contractors more than offset a loss of 16,000 among nonresidential contractors. Job growth in heavy construction continued in May; employment in the industry has increased by 34,000 since its recent low point in February 2004.

Manufacturing employment was little changed over the month. Since August 2004, factory employment has decreased by 67,000.