Payroll employment up 288,000 in April 2014

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 288,000 in April. Employment gains were widespread, led by job growth in professional and business services, retail trade, food services and drinking places, and construction.

Professional and business services added 75,000 jobs in April. Employment in this industry had increased by an average of 55,000 per month over the prior 12 months. In April, employment growth continued in temporary help services (+24,000), in management of companies and enterprises (+12,000), and in computer systems design and related services (+9,000). 

Retail trade employment rose by 35,000 in April. Over-the-month job growth occurred in food and beverage stores (+9,000), general merchandise stores (+8,000), motor vehicle and parts dealers (+6,000), and nonstore retailers (+4,000). Electronics and appliance stores lost 11,000 jobs. Over the past 12 months, employment in this industry has grown by 327,000. Wholesale trade added 16,000 jobs over the month and has added 126,000 jobs over the year.

In April, employment rose in food services and drinking places (+33,000), about in line with its prior 12-month average gain of 28,000 per month. 

In April, employment in construction grew by 32,000, with job growth in heavy and civil engineering construction (+11,000) and residential building (+7,000). Construction has added 189,000 jobs over the past year, with almost three-fourths of the gain occurring in the past 6 months. 

Health care employment increased by 19,000 in April, about in line with the prior 12-month average gain of 17,000 per month. Employment in other services, which includes membership associations and personal and laundry services, rose by 15,000 over the month. 

Mining added 10,000 jobs in April, with most of the gain in support activities for mining (+7,000). Employment in other major industries, including manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, and government, changed little over the month.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent two months are preliminary. To learn more, see "The Employment Situation — April 2014," (HTML) (PDF) news release USDL‑14‑0701. More charts featuring CES employment data can be found in Current Employment Statistics Highlights: April 2014 (PDF).