Unemployment Decline Continues in June

The number of nonfarm payroll employment continued its decline in June with a loss of 62,000 jobs, the U.S. Department of Labor reports. The unemployment rate held at 5.5 percent after jumping there in May from 5.0 percent.

Employment continued to fall in construction, manufacturing, and employment services, while health care and mining added jobs.  Average hourly earnings rose by 6 cents, or 0.3 percent, over the month.