- The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in July making it the highest level in nearly three years.
- This phenomenon is largely attributed to decreased hiring efforts owing to adjustments made by businesses from an increased borrowing cost.
- Although there was a decline in the average employment rate, the numbers in health care and construction increased though nonfarm payrolls grew by only 114,000 jobs.
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.3 percent in July, reaching the highest level since 3 years. Such an increase indicates that unemployment has been on the rise for at least four successive months. This elicits concern as much as labor market and economic performance is concerned. Employment on the other hand has issued a negative signal of a slowing labor market with hiring rates slowing down massively which in extension makes the economy vulnerable and can easily be depressed to cause a recession.
Increase in Unemployment and Deceleration in Recruitment
The rise in the unemployment rate from 4.1% in June to 4.3% in July is a significant shift, which came after the rate had fallen to a 50-year low of 3.4% just a few months earlier in April 2023.It can therefore be deduced that the rise in unemployment can be attributed to hiring freezing rather than firing.This is because organizations adjusted to high borrowing costs prompted by the Federal Reserve in 2022 and 2023. These measures to bring down the inflation rate have also starved demand in a number of sectors and therefore a slower employment growth.
Specific-Sector Employment Trends and Wages
In addition, the provided employment report showed that the wages up yearly rate in July has approached the lowest level for the past three years. The deceleration in wages has combined with increasing unemployment levels which has paved the way for expectations of a potential future reduction in the interest rates by the Federal Reserve Bank.
The overall economy thus experienced slow employment growth, but selected fields enjoyed increased employment numbers. Healthcare stood out as the most advertised sector, with job openings rising by 55,000 in July, this was followed by the construction sector with a rise in jobs by 25,000.
There were also minimal increases in employment in the transportation and warehouse, social assistance, and government services industries. But the overall direction indicates a slowing down in the job front; the non-farm payroll employment rose by 114,000 last month which is far below the anticipated figure.
Read also
disclaimer read moreCrypto News Land, also abbreviated as "CNL", is an independent media entity - we are not affiliated with any company in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry. We aim to provide fresh and relevant content that will help build up the crypto space since we believe in its potential to impact the world for the better. All of our news sources are credible and accurate as we know it, although we do not make any warranty as to the validity of their statements as well as their motive behind it. While we make sure to double-check the veracity of information from our sources, we do not make any assurances as to the timeliness and completeness of any information in our website as provided by our sources. Moreover, we disclaim any information on our website as investment or financial advice. We encourage all visitors to do your own research and consult with an expert in the relevant subject before making any investment or trading decision.
