Payroll employment by industry, May 2007

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 157,000 in May; health care and food services added jobs, while employment declined in manufacturing.

[Chart data—TXT]

Thus far in 2007, payroll employment gains have averaged 133,000 per month compared with average increase of 189,000 per month in 2006.

Employment in the health care industry continued to grow in May (+25,000), with gains in ambulatory health care services and hospitals.

In the leisure and hospitality sector, employment in food services and drinking places rose by 35,000 in May. This sector has added 361,000 jobs over the year.

Within professional and business services, job gains continued over the month in computer systems design (+8,000) and in architectural and engineering services (+7,000).

Manufacturing employment continued to decline in May (-19,000). About half of the decline occurred in motor vehicles and parts manufacturing, which lost 10,000 jobs over the month.

These data on employment are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and have been seasonally adjusted. More information can be found in "The Employment Situation: May 2007" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 07-0793. Data for the most recent two months are preliminary.