The manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy, which lost 23,000 jobs in July, shed another 11,000 jobs in August, the U.S. Labor Department reported on September 1.
The majority of the losses --8,000 jobs -- were among producers of durable goods.
Within manufacturing, producers of motor vehicles and parts cut payrolls by 6,900 workers, makers of wood products shaved payrolls by 4,900 employees, furniture makers cut back by 4,200 workers, and makers of paper and paper products erased 2,500 jobs, according to department data.
Makers of primary metals, fabricated metal products, semiconductors, electronic instruments and chemicals added workers last month, but their numbers were more than offset by losses in other parts of manufacturing.
During the last two months, U.S. manufacturing has lost 34,000 jobs.
Overall, the nonfarm segment of the U.S. economy, of which manufacturing is a part, added 128,000 jobs in August, just slight above economists expectations for 120,000 jobs but below the 150,000 monthly average needed to keep pace with U.S. population growth. The U.S. unemployment rate fell one-tenth of a percent to 4.7% as the labor force grew more slowly.
