Unemployment rose from 5 percent to 5.5
percent in May, while nonfarm payroll enrollment dropped by 49,000, according
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The BLS, a division of the U.S.
Department of Labor, said employment fell in construction, manufacturing,
retail trade and temporary help services, while health care added jobs. Average
hourly earnings rose by 5 cents, or 0.3 percent.
After seasonal adjustments, the number
of unemployed people increased by 61,000 to 8.5 million. A year earlier, 6.9
million people were unemployed and the jobless rate was 4.5 percent.
