USA payroll employment continued to decline in July (-247,000), and the unemployment rate was little changed at 9.4 percent. Job losses continued in almost all of the major industry sectors.

Bureau of Labor figures show manufacturing employment fell by 52,000 in July and has declined by 2.0 million since the recession began. Retail trade employment declined by 44,000 and wholesale trade fell by 19,000. Transportation and warehousing also lost 22,000 jobs.

Employment in professional & ,business services, and financial activities continued to trend down in July.

Health care employment increased by 20,000 in July, about in line with the average monthly gain for the first half of this year but down from an average monthly increase of 30,000 during 2008. Employment in leisure and hospitality has been little changed over the past 3 months.

July 2009 earnings by industry sector