Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 215,000 in July, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.3 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Job gains occurred in retail trade (+36,000), health care (+28,000), professional and technical services (+27,000), and financial activities (+17,000).

Employment in manufacturing, food services and drinking places, and transportation and warehousing also trended up for the month. However, mining employment trended down (-5,000).

Employment in other major industries, including construction, wholesale trade, information, and government, showed little change over the month.

Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 5 cents to $24.99. Over the year, average hourly earnings have risen by 2.1 percent. Average hourly earnings of private-sector production and nonsupervisory employees increased by 3 cents to $21.01 in July.

Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were down by 0.9 percentage point and 1.4 million, respectively.

The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) was little changed at 2.2 million. These individuals accounted for 26.9 percent of the unemployed. Over the past 12 months, the number of long-term unemployed is down by 986,000.