SAVANNAH MORNING NEWSJuly 10, 2007

The Springs At Chatham apartment complex is under construction on Chatham Parkway. General contractor McShane Construction anticipates the first of 22 buildings to be complete by September, with an additional 16-unit building completed every two weeks. (Photo: John Carrington)

The economy added 132,000 new jobs in June and overall, the employment report shows many signs of a healthy labor market: Unemployment remains at 4.5 percent, and the employment rate rose back to 63.1 percent in June, after falling to 63.0 percent in April and May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nearly half of June's job gains were in health care. While the private sector added 92,000 new jobs, health care employment rose by 42,300. Manufacturing shed 18,000 jobs in June, but construction added 12,000 new jobs, with 2,000 of these in residential building.

Heather Boushey, an economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said this anomaly is something to watch in future months; residential construction is down significantly so it is unclear why the survey is reporting employment gains.

"Another indicator to watch in future months is temporary help employment. This sector had no employment gains in 2006, and so far this year has shed nearly 48,000 jobs, losing 7,900 jobs in June," she wrote in a report released Friday. "This may indicate that employers are shedding excess labor and that they will not be looking to hire in future months."