US job growth picks up moderately; unemployment rate falls to 4.2%
Adds details from report throughout
Nonfarm payrolls increase 142,000 in August
July payrolls growth revised down to 89,000 from 114,000
Unemployment rate falls to 4.2% from 4.3%
Average hourly earnings rise 0.4%; up 3.8% year-on-year
By Lucia Mutikani
WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) -U.S. employment increased less than expected in August, but a drop in the jobless rate to 4.2% suggested an orderly labor market slowdown continued and probably did not warrant a big interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve this month.
The below-expectations rise in nonfarm payrolls reported by the Labor Department on Friday likely reflected a seasonal quirk that tends to push the initial August print lower. Nonetheless, labor market momentum is slowing, with the closely watched employment report also showing the economy added 86,000 fewer jobs in June and July than previously reported.
"The labor market is cooling at a measured pace," said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial. "Businesses are still adding to payrolls but not as indiscriminately. The Fed will likely cut by 25 basis points and reserve the right to be more aggressive in the last two meetings of the year."
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 142,000 jobs last month after a downwardly revised 89,000 rise in July, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls increasing by 160,000 jobs after a previously reported 114,000 gain in July.
Estimates ranged from 100,000 to 245,000 jobs.
August payrolls have a tendency to initially print weaker relative to the consensus estimate and recent trend before being revised higher later. Hiring typically picks up in the education sector, which is anticipated by the model that the government uses to strip out seasonal fluctuations from the data.
The start of the new school year, however, varies across the country, which can throw off the so-called seasonal factors. The initial August payrolls counts have been revised higher in 10 of the last 13 years. Layoffs remain at historic low levels.
Employment gains last month were led by the construction sector, which added 34,000 jobs, driven by heavy and civil engineering construction and nonresidential specialty trade contractors. Healthcare payrolls increased by 31,000 jobs. But momentum has slowed, with the jobs gains about half the average monthly increase of 60,000 over the last 12 months.
Social assistance employment increased 13,000, a smaller rise than the average monthly gain of 21,000 over the past year. There were increases in the financial activities and leisure and hospitality sectors. Government payrolls increased 24,000. But manufacturing employment dropped 24,000.
A surge in immigration, which is partly blamed for the jump in the unemployment rate from a five-decade low of 3.4% in April 2023, now means the economy needs to create between 145,000 and 200,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population. Household employment rose 168,000 last month, more than absorbing the 120,000 people who entered the labor force.
That pulled the unemployment rate down from a near three-year high of 4.3% in July. The jobless rate had risen for four straight months.
Financial markets initially raised the odds of a half-point rate cut at the Fed's Sept. 17-18 policy meeting to above 50% before lowering them to about 43%, according to CME Group's FedWatch Tool. The odds of a 25 basis point rate reduction were around 57%.
Trade in financial markets was choppy. U.S. Treasury yields initially fell after the data while the dollar slipped against a basket of currencies, before reversing.
Average hourly earnings increased 0.4% in August after gaining 0.2% in July. Wages increased 3.8% year-on-year after advancing 3.6% in July. Still-solid wage growth continues to underpin the economy through consumer spending.
Monthly change in US jobs https://reut.rs/4gibo5B
Reporting by Lucia Mutikani; Editing by Andrea Ricci
Últimas notícias
Isenção de Responsabilidade: As entidades do XM Group proporcionam serviço de apenas-execução e acesso à nossa plataforma online de negociação, permitindo a visualização e/ou uso do conteúdo disponível no website ou através deste, o que não se destina a alterar ou a expandir o supracitado. Tal acesso e uso estão sempre sujeitos a: (i) Termos e Condições; (ii) Avisos de Risco; e (iii) Termos de Responsabilidade. Este, é desta forma, fornecido como informação generalizada. Particularmente, por favor esteja ciente que os conteúdos da nossa plataforma online de negociação não constituem solicitação ou oferta para iniciar qualquer transação nos mercados financeiros. Negociar em qualquer mercado financeiro envolve um nível de risco significativo de perda do capital.
Todo o material publicado na nossa plataforma de negociação online tem apenas objetivos educacionais/informativos e não contém — e não deve ser considerado conter — conselhos e recomendações financeiras, de negociação ou fiscalidade de investimentos, registo de preços de negociação, oferta e solicitação de transação em qualquer instrumento financeiro ou promoção financeira não solicitada direcionadas a si.
Qual conteúdo obtido por uma terceira parte, assim como o conteúdo preparado pela XM, tais como, opiniões, pesquisa, análises, preços, outra informação ou links para websites de terceiras partes contidos neste website são prestados "no estado em que se encontram", como um comentário de mercado generalizado e não constitui conselho de investimento. Na medida em que qualquer conteúdo é construído como pesquisa de investimento, deve considerar e aceitar que este não tem como objetivo e nem foi preparado de acordo com os requisitos legais concebidos para promover a independência da pesquisa de investimento, desta forma, deve ser considerado material de marketing sob as leis e regulações relevantes. Por favor, certifique-se que leu e compreendeu a nossa Notificação sobre Pesquisa de Investimento não-independente e o Aviso de Risco, relativos à informação supracitada, os quais podem ser acedidos aqui.
