Commissioner's Statement on the Employment Situation News Release — 2010-06-04

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 rose by 431,000 in May, reflecting the hiring of 411,000 temporary workers for Census 2010. The unemployment rate edged down to 9.7 percent. Private-sector employment showed little change over the month (+41,000) but has increased by 495,000 since December. Manufacturing employment continued to rise, with a gain of 29,000 in May. The industry has added 126,000 jobs thus far in 2010. Employment growth also continued in temporary help services. A gain of 31,000 jobs in May was in line with the average increase over the prior 3 months. Mining employment increased by 10,000 in May; this industry has added 50,000 jobs since October. Federal government employment rose sharply in May, reflecting the addition of 411,000 temporary workers for Census 2010.