Metro Houston added 5,500 jobs in June, bringing total nonfarm employment to 2,998,700. The sectors recording notable growth in June were leisure and hospitality (+9,000 jobs), manufacturing (+1,900), and professional and business services (+1,600).

The sectors reporting the largest losses in June were government (-6,500) and construction (-4,400). The declines in government were driven by the temporary shedding of jobs in public education during the summer months.

Houston’s unemployment rate increased from 4.8 percent in May to 5.5 percent in June. Unemployment rates typically increase from May to June as it reflects the temporary decline of jobs in public education.