Temporary help payrolls fell by 6,500 jobs in August to approximately 1.7 million, a smaller decrease than the 7,600 temporary jobs lost in July, according to seasonally adjusted preliminary numbers released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The temporary help penetration rate edged down to 1.32% in August from 1.33% in July.

August's decline of 6,500 jobs in temporary employment was less than the 12-month average change of a loss of 47,000 per month.

Year over year, temporary help payrolls were down 24.5%.

Temporary job losses as a percent of total job losses were 3.0% in August.

Total U.S. nonfarm payrolls fell by 216,000 in August, down from the 12-month average job loss of 486,000 per month.

The U.S. unemployment rate in August was 9.7%, up from 9.4% in July.

In construction, employment fell by 65,000 in August; that compares with the 12-month average change in employment of a loss of 90,000 jobs per month.

In manufacturing, employment fell by 63,000 jobs in August. It was also smaller than manufacturing's average decline over the last 12 months of 135,000 jobs per month.

Employment in the financial activities sector fell by 28,000 jobs in August compared to its average job loss over the last 12 months of 36,000 jobs per month.

The education and health sector gained 52,000 jobs in August, higher than its average job gain of 31,000 per month over the last 12 months.

The college-level unemployment rate edged up to 4.70% in August from 4.69% in July.