Employers added 559,000 tasks in May, the Labor Department said Friday, missing out on the addition of 650,000 tasks that analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting. Nearly two-thirds of those gains, or 186,000 tasks, were in food services and drinking locations. The building sector lost 20,000 tasks in May and has 220,000 fewer employees as a result of the pandemic. The labor force participation rate was little bit changed at 61.6% and has remained in between 61.4% and 61.7% since last June.

Employers included 559,000 jobs in May, the Labor Department stated Friday, missing out on the addition of 650,000 jobs that experts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting. Practically two-thirds of those gains, or 186,000 jobs, were in food services and drinking places. The labor force participation rate was little changed at 61.6% and has actually stayed between 61.4% and 61.7% given that last June.