After dropping 8,000 jobs in May, the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy added 15,000 jobs in June, the U.S. Labor Department reported on July 7.
Among producers of durable goods, the department's data show primary metals, fabricated metal products, machinery, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment and appliances, and transportation equipment adding to payrolls last month. Among makers of nondurables, food, beverage and tobacco products, printing, chemicals, and plastics and rubber products added employees.
There were some job losses in manufacturing in June. Among durable goods manufacturers, wood products shaved 2,600 workers last month; non-metallic mineral products lost 1,200; and furniture scratched 1,100. Among makers of non-durable goods, textile mills were the big loser, unraveling 2,400 jobs.
The overall U.S. nonfarm economy, of which manufacturing is a part, generated 121,000 new jobs in June, an increase of 29,000 jobs from May's upwardly revised figure of 92,000. Nevertheless, June's employment gain fell short of some economists' forecasts of as many as 165,000 new jobs as well as the 150,000 jobs the economy needs to create each month just to keep up with population growth.
The overall U.S. unemployment rate in June was 4.6%, unchanged from May.
