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                        Statement of
                              
                       Philip L. Rones
                     Acting Commissioner
                 Bureau of Labor Statistics
                              
                  Friday, September 1, 2006


     Nonfarm payroll employment rose by 128,000 in August,
and the unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 4.7
percent.  The employment increase was about in line with the
average monthly gain of 117,000 for the 4-month period from
April to July.  During the 12-month period ending in March,
job growth averaged 169,000 per month.  Average hourly
earnings rose by 2 cents, or 0.1 percent, in August.

     In the service-providing sector, education and health
services employment grew by 60,000; health care contributed
35,000 of the net increase, and social assistance added
13,000 jobs.  Over the year, health care employment expanded
by 286,000.  Within health care, hospitals added 14,000 jobs
over the month.  Employment also increased in doctors'
offices, home health care services, and outpatient care
centers.

     Several other service-providing industries contributed
to job growth in August.  Employment in food services and
drinking places continued to trend up, although the pace
of job growth has moderated in recent months.  Employment
growth also continued at a slower pace in financial activities.

     Within professional and business services, employment
continued to trend up over the month in management and
technical consulting; computer systems design; and
architectural and engineering services.  Employment in
temporary help services, however, has shown little change
thus far this year.
     
     In retail trade, job losses continued in department
stores in August (-9,000).  Over the past 5 months, depart-
ment stores have shed 47,000 jobs.
     
     In the goods-producing sector, construction employment
edged up in August (+17,000), following several months in
which employment was little changed.  Employment in
nonresidential specialty trade contracting continued to
expand over the month.  However, other components of the
construction industry have shown little or no job growth in
recent months.  Employment in mining rose by 5,000 in
August, mostly in oil and gas extraction and in related
support activities.

     Manufacturing employment edged down over the month,
largely due to job losses in motor vehicles, wood products,
and furniture and related products.  Manufacturing hours
were down 0.1 hour to 41.3 hours, and factory overtime held
at 4.5 hours.
     
     Average hourly earnings for private production and
nonsupervisory workers rose by 2 cents (0.1 percent) in
August, following gains of 8 cents in July and 7 cents in
June.  Over the 12-month period ending in August, average
hourly earnings have risen by 3.9 percent.

     Most major labor market indicators from our household
survey showed little or no change in August.  Both the
unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were
essentially unchanged at 4.7 percent and 7.1 million,
respectively.  The labor force participation rate held at
66.2 percent, and the employment-population ratio was 63.1
percent.

     In summary, payroll employment rose by 128,000 in
August, and the unemployment rate was about unchanged at
4.7 percent.