US adds 33,000 temp jobs in June after three months of declines

The number of US temp jobs rose by 33,000 in June, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Temp jobs had declined in the preceding two months, shrinking by 6,500 in May and 122,300 in April, according to revised data.

US temp jobs totaled nearly 2.67 million in June, up 24.2% from June 2020. The temp penetration rate — the number of temp jobs as a percent of total employment — was 1.83% in June, up from 1.82% in May.

Total US nonfarm employment jumped by 850,000 in June, the largest month-over-month increase so far this year. The US had added just 583,000 jobs in May and 269,000 in April, according to revised numbers. Total jobs were up 5.75% year over year in June. Still, the BLS noted that total nonfarm employment is still down 4.4% from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020.

“With 33,000 new temp jobs and 850,000 total jobs added to the workforce, the June numbers are a positive sign for a broad-based economic recovery despite ongoing challenges in finding qualified candidates,” said Barry Asin, president of Staffing Industry Analysts.

The BLS reported that employment in leisure and hospitality led the way in job creation, rising by 343,000 in June as pandemic-related restrictions continued to ease in parts of the country. However, employment in leisure and hospitality is still down 2.2% from its February 2020 level.

In June, the US unemployment rate was 5.9%, edging up from May’s 5.8% reading.

The college-level unemployment rate ticked up to 3.5% in June from 3.2% in May.

The original article can be found at: Staffing Industry Analysts