Job growth continued to falter, with payrolls falling by 19,000, after last month's decline of 182,000. The change in the unemployment rate was not statistically significant , meaning the rate was essentially unchanged. Another notable sign of weakness is the steep decline in the labor force over the past few months. If so, this labor force exodus is masking a larger increase in the unemployment rate. That is, if the decline in the labor force represents persons who would be unsuccessfully seeking jobs had they stayed in, unemployment could be as much as 0.4 percentage points higher than the current number.
Manufacturing continues to bear the brunt of the slowdown .
Most of these losses have occurred in electronic equipment, autos, apparel, and industrial equipment. The impact of the slowing economy can also be seen in the service sector , the main engine of job growth over the recovery. Business services, particularly the temporary help industry, continues to reflect weak demand among business firms , but another developing area of concern relates to weakening consumer demand. For example, over the past two months hotel employment has contracted by 22,000, the largest two-month decline since the last recession. Also, wholesale and retail trade employment dropped by 14,000 and 5,000, respectively.