As employers face worker shortage, the United States economy added 559 thousands jobs in May of 2021, above an upwardly revised 278K rise in April but below market forecasts of 650K. The losses in temporary help services (-111K) and in couriers and messengers (-77K) have been partially recovered by notable job gains in leisure and hospitality (292K), in public (103K), and private education (41K) and in health care and social assistance (46K).
Non-farm employment is down by 5.4%(8.2 million) from its pre-pandemic level in February 2020
Some analysts think that enhanced unemployment benefits are keeping people at home and not taking jobs.
Unemployment rate in the US rose to 6.1% in the latest reading for April 2021. The number of unemployed people rose from 6.0% in the previous month and has missed market expectations hinting at 5.8%. The explanation is to be found in the number of workers beginning to look for a work and re-entering the labor market adding up to the numbers of the labor force.
While the activity rate rose to 61.7 percent from 61.5 percent in March, the number of unemployed people increased by 102 thousand to 9.81 million and the number of employed was up by 328 thousand to 151.2 million.
The Unemployment level is slowing down since their recent highs in April 2020,however it remains well above the level prior to the start of the pandemic.
