Employment Relief, LLC goal is to put Americans back to work. Employment is up, on net, in five of the last six months, and up by over 500,000 over the past two months. Moreover, it is widely agreed upon that the Recovery Act played—and continues to play—an instrumental role in this jobs turnaround. 

The United States created 431,000 jobs last month, the vast majority of those positions were temporary hires by the U.S. government to deal with the census, with only 41,000 jobs added in the private sector, according to the data released yesterday by the U.S. Labor Department. Some economists had been predicting a private-sector increase of as many as 200,000 jobs. 

- The economy gained 431,000 jobs in May-– strongest month-month since March 2000 (472,000)

- Private sector payrolls increased 41,000, fifth straight month-month increase; down from a gain of 231,000 in April

- Total includes 411,000 Census jobs; ALL government jobs increased 390,000

- Unemployment rate decreased to 9.7% as labor force declined

- Average weekly hours increased to 34.2, the highest level since January 2009 holding down hiring.

- Long term unemployment (> 27 weeks) to 46.0% of total unemployed in May from 45.9% in April

- Average duration of unemployment increased to record 34.4 from 33.0 weeks in April

- Unemployment rate for “marginally attached” workers fell to 16.6% from 17.1% in April

Now one could argue the fact unemployment dropped in May to its lowest level since February was good news, but behind those numbers the assessment falters. The number of “re-entrants” to the labor force – who swell the unemployment numbers – declined 286,000 as total unemployment fell 287,000. Translation, fewer people believe jobs are available and have not returned to the job market.

Another potential bit of good news, in the headline at least, is the decline in the unemployment rate to 9.7%.