Total nonfarm payroll employment grew by 431,000 in May, reflecting the hiring of 411,000 temporary employees to work on Census 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

Private-sector employment changed little (+41,000). Manufacturing, temporary help services and mining added jobs, while construction employment declined. The unemployment rate edged down 
to 9.7 percent. While the construction sector continues to struggle, it can’t be good news for those in the landscape industry.

The number of unemployed persons was 15 million in May. The unemployment rate edged down to 9.7 percent, the same rate as in the first three months of 2010.