AFL-CIO: Economy Gains 187,000 Jobs in July; Unemployment Little Changed at 3.5%

The U.S. economy gained 187,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows the continued success of President Biden's policies.

July's biggest job gains were in health care (+63,000), social assistance (+24,000), other services (+20,000), financial activities (+19,000), construction (+19,000), wholesale trade (+18,000), leisure and hospitality (+17,000), and professional and business services (-8,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; and government.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asian Americans declined to 2.3% in July. The jobless rates for teenagers (11.3%), Black Americans (5.8%), Hispanics (4.4%), adult men (3.3%), adult women (3.1%) and White Americans (3.1%) showed little or no change over the month. 

The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in July and accounted for 19.9% of the total people unemployed.