Here is the most recent Retail & Consumer job report as of Jul 7, 2025:

The U.S. private sector lost 33,000 jobs in June 2025, marking the first monthly decline since March 2023. While employment contracted in professional/business and education/health sectors, gains in manufacturing and leisure/hospitality helped offset some of the losses. Wage growth remained resilient: job-stayers saw +4.4% YoY pay gains, and job-changers earned +6.8%  

Industry‑Specific Insights (Retail & Consumer Sectors)

Leisure and Hospitality

• +32,000 net jobs — This segment (travel, hospitality, hotels) led growth, with continued consumer spending on dining and leisure activities aiding recovery  .

Trade, Transportation, and Utilities

• +14,000 net jobs — Logistics and distribution employment rebounded. This reflects steady demand in supply chains and shipping services.

Manufacturing

• +15,000 net jobs — Including consumer packaged goods, manufacturing posted solid gains—signifying stable production levels and inventory replenishments.

Retail

• While not broken out separately, retail is captured under Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (+14k), indicating modest hiring in retailers and grocery operations—mirroring broader sector trends.

Food Service

• Covered within Leisure & Hospitality (+32k), restaurant and bar hiring continued, supporting the overall segment rebound.

Job Creation by Business Size

• Mid‑Sized Businesses (50–249 employees): +12,000 jobs — Gains here were evident in hospitality and manufacturing .
• Small Businesses (<50 employees): –47,000 jobs — Smaller firms in professional/business and education/health services shed roles.
• Large Businesses (>500 employees): +30,000 jobs — Larger employers drove most hiring, particularly in manufacturing and leisure spending sectors.

Wage Trends

• Job‑Stayers: +4.4% YoY — Pay growth remained steady, with stronger gains in leisure/hospitality (4.7%) and education/health services (4.6%).
• Job‑Changers: +6.8% YoY — Wage growth for switchers edged down slightly from 7.0%, yet stayed robust, particularly in hospitality, food service, and logistics where labor remains constrained.

Regional Employment Notes

• South Region: +13,000 jobs — Likely boosted by growth in hospitality and distribution in Sun Belt markets.
• Other regions (Northeast, Midwest, West) either declined or stayed flat, with no major employment shifts.

Clarifying the Math: Net Growth Context

The June report reflects a net loss of 33,000 jobs across private-sector firms. This “net” figure is the sum of increases (e.g., +32k Leisure & Hospitality, +15k Manufacturing, +14k Trade & Transport) and decreases (e.g., –56k Professional/Business Services, –52k Education & Health Services). In summary: while core consumer-facing industries continued hiring, they weren’t enough to offset softening in white‑collar sectors, resulting in the slight downturn.

This article was initiated using AI technology provided by Apple and OpenAI.