The manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy continued to shed jobs in July, even as the overall nonfarm economy, of which manufacturing is a part, added 207,000 jobs, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Aug. 5. On a seasonally adjusted basis, U.S. manufacturing employment was just under 14.3 million last month.
The standout loss of 10,700 jobs among motor vehicle and parts producers in July reflected "larger-than-normal" plant shutdowns for retooling, noted Kathleen P. Utgoff, the commissioner of the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. In contrast, employment among makers of fabricated metal products, machinery, and computer and electronic products increased by 9,900.
The factory workweek was 40.4 hours in July, unchanged from June. Factory overtime rose by 6 minutes to 4.5 hours per week last month.
Both construction and natural resources and mining, which along with manufacturing constitute the goods-producing sector of the U.S. economy, added jobs in July. Construction jobs increased by 7,000. Natural resources and mining added 1,000 jobs.
