US Nonfarm Payroll Increases by 57,000 in June; Unemployment at 4.2%

On Thursday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 57,000 in June, down from a revised gain of 129,000 in May.

The unemployment rate edged down from 4.3% to 4.2%, with 7.1 million people unemployed.

Growth was led by the following sectors:

• Professional and business services added 36,000 jobs. The industry has added 172,000 jobs since a recent low in October 2025.
• Social assistance added 25,000 jobs, compared with an average monthly gain of 16,000 over the prior 12 months.
• Health care added 22,000 jobs, below its average monthly gain of 38,000 over the prior 12 months.

Job losses were concentrated in leisure and hospitality, which fell by 61,000, reflecting weaker than usual seasonal hiring. Thus far in 2026, employment in the industry has shown little net change.

Employment showed little or no change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; financial activities; other services; and government.

Monthly Revisions

Revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimate and from recalculations of seasonal factors.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for April was revised down by 31,000, from 179,000 to 148,000, and the change for May was revised down by 43,000, from 172,000 to 129,000. With these revisions, employment in April and May combined is 74,000 lower than previously reported.