Construction industry moved slightly downward (-800) after four consecutive monthly increases
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.6 percent in July from 9.4 percent in June.
The overall labor force fell slightly by nearly 7,200 people to 2,143,275. Historically, employment decreases during the summer months due to the seasonal ebb and flow of employment in the educational sector, the state Department of Employment and Workforce said in a release Friday. The non-farm payroll jobs (which are not seasonally adjusted) fell by 22,700 from June to July 2012, with the majority of the decrease in Government (-15,300).
Other sectors declining last month include Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,000, mostly in Retail Trade), Professional and Business Services (-1,700), and Manufacturing (-1,600). Employment in the Construction industry moved slightly downward (-800) after four consecutive monthly increases. Education and Health Services jobs declined by 600 as private educational schools and ambulatory health care services declined.
The Information sector was the only one experiencing an increase (+200). Since July 2011, non-farm employment has seen an overall increase of 11,300 jobs.
The national unemployment rate increased slightly from 8.2 percent in June to 8.3 percent in July.
