Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release - 2022 M07 Results — 2022-08-05

Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 528,000 in July, and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.5 percent. Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and health care. In July, both total nonfarm employment and the unemployment rate returned to their February 2020 pre-pandemic levels. Private-sector employment is 629,000 higher than in February 2020, although several sectors have yet to recover. Government employment is 597,000 lower than its pre-pandemic level. In July, employment growth continued in leisure and hospitality (+96,000), with most of the gain in food services and drinking places (+74,000). Employment in leisure and hospitality is down by 1.2 million, or 7.1 percent, from its February 2020 level. Employment in professional and business services increased by 89,000 in July and is 986,000 above its February 2020 level.