WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gains in retail employment helped add about 850,000 jobs in the U.S. in June, but the country's unemployment rate held steady at 5.9% despite the increase, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Other areas of job growth included leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and education.
Despite job gains, the number of unemployed people was "little changed in June" at 9.5 million, the BLS reported, noting that the overall unemployment rate remains higher than numbers prior to the pandemic.
"Overall,nonfarm payroll employment is up by 15.6 million since April 2020," BLS Commissioner William Beach said. "However, employment is down by 6.8 million, or 4.4%, from the pre-pandemic employment peak in February 2020."
The retail sector added 67,000 jobs in June led by increases in clothing and general merchandise stores. Overall retail employment is still off by 303,000 jobs, or 1.9% since February 2020, the BLS said.