Employment Changes by Industry

As reported earlier this week, total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 244,000 in April, and the private sector added 268,000 jobs.

But all jobs are not create equal.  The jobs being created now may give us a window into what the employment landscape will be in the future.

The biggest jobs boost came in the retail sector, which added 57,000 jobs in April.  Over the years pundits have lamented our transition to a service economy.  But this increase is an encouraging sign for the economy.  If retailers are willing to pay more workers, they must be expecting increased business.

Other sectors that showed significant job growth were professional and business services (+51,000), education and health services (+49,000) and leisure and hospitality (+46,000).

Manufacturing also show a gain, adding 29,000 jobs.  And the mining and logging sector added 10,000 jobs in April.  It’s worth noting that since reaching a low point in December, 2009, manufacturing has added 250,000 jobs.  Along the same lines, mining (part of mining and logging) added 11,000 jobs. Since a recent low point in October 2009, employment in mining has increased by 107,000.

The only sector that show a loss of jobs was the government sector, which lost 24,000 jobs in April, continuing it’s downward trend.  Losses were concentrated in the non-educational components.