No Jobs Added in August, Unemployment Still 9.1%

Washington, DC, Sept. 2, 2011 – The economy added no net jobs in August, according to the Labor Department.

The government also reported that the unemployment rate remained at 9.1%t. It was the weakest jobs report since September 2010.

In addition, there were revisions to the jobs data for June and July. Together, those figures were lowered to show 58,000 fewer jobs added. The downward revisions were all in government jobs.

The average work week also declined and hourly earnings fell by 3 cents to $23.09.

In August, the private sector added 17,000 jobs, the fewest since February 2010. That compares with 156,000 in July and 75,000 in June.

Two of the bright spots in the economy over the past year, manufacturing and retail, lost ground, falling by 3,000 and 8,000 jobs, respectively.