Employment
Preliminary estimates show that employment grew by 70,600 in the second
quarter this year. This is slightly lower than the increase of 73,200 in the previous
quarter but higher than 64,400 in the second quarter of 2007.
Driven by the robust expansion in building activities, employment in construction rose by a record 22,100 in the second quarter this year, substantially higher than the quarters before (Table 1). Outside of construction, employment growth has moderated from the previous quarter. Services added 37,600 workers in the second quarter of 2008, down from the gains of 46,500 in the previous quarter but still slightly higher than 36,800 in the second quarter of 2007. Manufacturing posted gains of 10,200, down from the increase of 11,800 in the preceding quarter and 15,900 in the same quarter a year ago.
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