According to a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics release on September 5, total U.S. nonfarm payroll employment increased by only 22,000 in August, continuing a trend of minimal growth since April. Of that growth, healthcare accounted for 31,000 new jobs, slightly below the average monthly gain of 42,000 over the prior year. In August, job gains occurred in ambulatory health care services (+13,000), nursing and residential care facilities (+9,000), and hospitals (+9,000). The unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.3 percent in August, up from 4.2 percent in July. The rate has remained in a narrow range of 4.0 to 4.3 percent since May 2024. Revisions to earlier data were mixed: the change in total nonfarm payroll employment for June was revised down by 27,000, from +14,000 to -13,000, while July was revised up by 6,000, from +73,000 to +79,000. With these revisions, employment in June and July combined is 21,000 lower than previously reported. Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.