Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2013-06-07

Advance copies of this statement are made available to the press under lock-up conditions with the explicit understanding that the data are embargoed until 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Nonfarm payroll employment increased by 175,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 7.6 percent. Over the prior 12 months, job gains averaged 172,000 per month. In May, employment increased in professional and business services, food services and drinking places, and retail trade. Employment in professional and business services grew by 57,000 over the month and by 589,000 over the year. In May, employment continued to trend up in temporary help services (+26,000), computer systems design (+6,000), and architectural and engineering services (+5,000). Food services and drinking places added 38,000 jobs in May. Employment in the industry has risen by 337,000 in the past 12 months. Retail trade employment increased by 28,000 in May, as general merchandise stores continued to add jobs (+10,000).