This morning, I mentioned how little I care about the discrete monthly NFP data each month, saying the “overall trend” was what mattered. Specifically, I suggested looking at internals of the report for trends in wages, temp help, hours worked, etc. to determine the overall health of the labor market.
This report showed a continuation of a trend I find to be unhealthy: The outside contribution of low wage sectors to the NFP report.
Leisure and hospitality, health care and social assistance, retail and temporary jobs — all low wage sectors — have been responsible for over half (51%) of the private sector job growth the last year.
Weak wage growth is function of slack in the labor force and a lack of negotiating power amongst job holders and seekers.
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