The US non-farm payroll employment rose with 224 000 newly added jobs in June, which surpassed the initial forecasts for 162 000 new jobs, but the underlying unemployment rate rose to 3.7 per cent.
The most significant job gains were registered in the professional and business services industry, as well as the health care industry. However, the overall unemployment rate, as perceived by demographics characteristics, demonstrates different conclusions about the state of the US labour market. According to household survey data:
“Both the unemployment rate, at 3.7 per cent, and the number of unemployed persons, at 6.0 million, changed little in June.” [source]
According to the establishment survey data:
“Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 224 000 in June. Employment growth has averaged 172 000 per month thus far this year, compared with an average monthly gain of 223 000 in 2018.”
The apparent success of the American industry-performance across multiple sectors is what keeps investors upbeat, and also caused the initial market reaction to the release of the report, which measured a sizable increase of the value of the USD, as the US dollar currency index spiked with 0.60 per cent immediately after the release of the report.
The performance of the various American industries in June managed to surpass both the average employment growth throughout 2019, as well as the employment growth that had been registered throughout the previous year. Following these results, the initial market reaction was to perceive the June NFP as being overall positive.
However, it should also be noted that with the added revisions of the final results observed during April and May, the general perspective of the labour market is also marginally shifted.
“The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for April was revised down from +224 000 to + 216 000, and the change for May was revised down from + 75 000 to +72 000. With these revisions, employment gains in April and May combined were 11 000 less than previously reported.”
Despite the 0.1 per cent increase in the total unemployment rate, the US labour market remains resilient, and the aggregate employment remains close to full employment and within the target range of the FED. However, the risk is not entirely removed, and Jerome Powell and the FOMC would still have to consider how to sustain the current state of affairs, even at the cost of possible interest rate cuts if needed.
The monetary policy committee would most likely remain vigilant and observe the future developments in the US labour market, in addition to the underlying changes in the inflation rate.
Meanwhile, the US dollar currency index has gained momentum following the release of the NFP report and is on track to continue compensating for most of the losses that were registered in June.