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U.S. Temp Jobs Edge Down 2,300

May 06, 2011

The number of U.S. temporary help jobs edged down by 2,300 in April from March for a total of approximately 2.25 million, according to seasonally adjusted numbers reported today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The temporary help penetration rate was essentially unchanged in April at 1.72 percent.

In addition, revised data in today’s BLS report show the number of temp jobs rose by 34,400 in March from February instead of the 28,800 initially reported.

The employment service category lost 1,500 jobs in April for a total of approximately 2.92 million. The employment services category includes temporary help services as well as employment placement agencies, executive search services and professional employer organizations.

Overall, total nonfarm employment rose by 244,000 jobs in April for a total of 131.0 million, seasonally adjusted.

The jobless rate edged up to 9.0 percent in April from 8.8 percent in March. The college-level unemployment rate, which can serve as a proxy for professional employment, inched up to 4.5 percent (seasonally adjusted) in April from 4.4 percent in March.

The private sector added 268,000 jobs in April, but the government sector lost 24,000.

Manufacturing gained 29,000 jobs in April. Construction gained 5,000.

Healthcare and social assistance gained 41,800 jobs in April. Professional and business services added 51,000 jobs, 33,000 of which were in professional and technical services. Other big gainers were retail trade, which added 57,000 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, which added 46,000 jobs.