TRENTON – Only 69,000 jobs were added during the month of May, according to a U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics report released today. The 69,000-job increase is the fewest in a year, according to an Associated Press report.
The national unemployment rate remains unchanged at 8.2 percent.
Construction jobs declined, according to the report, while employment increased in health care, transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade industries.
The number of long-term unemployed residents (those jobless for more than 26 weeks) rose from 5.1 million to 5.4 million in May, accounting for 42.8 percent of the total unemployed population.
The average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 2 cents in May, up to $23.41.