The Conference Board’s U.S. employment trends index increased in August to a reading of 121.29, up from July’s upwardly revised reading of 120.62. The August reading is up 6.4 percent from the same month a year ago.

“The strong increase in the employment trends index in recent months signals robust job growth through the fall,” said Gad Levanon, director of macroeconomic research at The Conference Board. “The disappointing employment numbers for August seem to be a one-month deviation from a stronger trend.”