Nonfarm payrolls rose by a net 142,000 in August, its slowest gain this year and less than the 226,000 jobs added on average in the prior seven months. Gains were driven by professional and business services (up 47,000), education and health services (up 37,000), and goods producing sectors (up 22,000, of which 20,000 came from the construction sector). Retail employment fell by 8,400, yet according to the U.S. Department of Labor, some of the decline may have been caused by a labor strike at a New England grocery chain that employs 25,000 people. Their return would boost September's employment figures.
Revisions to the previous two months’ estimates subtracted 28,000 jobs on net. June was revised down from 298,000 to 267,000. July was revised up from 209,000 to 212,000.
