The full report can be seen here: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htm.

Total employment in the United State fell by 131,000 positions in July as the unemployment rate remained at 9.5 percent, according to new figures released from the Labor Department. The most significant losses were seen in the government as 202,000 jobs were shed. The end of 143,000 temporary census jobs made up the bulk of losses, however, cash strapped state and local governments also trimmed 48,000 positions. Total private sector employment increased for the seventh month in a row, adding 71,000 positions.

Helped by many automakers and part suppliers skipping their normal summer slowdown, manufacturing added 36,000 positions during the month. Manufacturing has added 183,000 jobs since December 2009. The professional, management and related occupation unemployment rate in July was 5 percent, down from 5.5 percent a year ago. The unemployment rate for college educated workers, those with a bachelor’s degree or higher stood at 4.5 percent, down from 4.7 percent a year ago.

The average duration of unemployment in July fell from 35.2 to 34.2 weeks, marking its most substantial decrease since November 2008, when average unemployment was 18.7 weeks. The percent of unemployed people out of work for over 27 weeks decreased for the second month in a row falling to 44.9 percent from 46 percent in May. However, there is little indication if long-term unemployed people finding work are causing this, or if they have simply taken themselves out of the job market.

The presence of temporary census jobs in the employment figures over the past few months first exaggerated the recovery by showing large gains yet now are hiding its stability by indicating losses. The slow, but relatively stable growth of private sector jobs over the last seven months are reminiscent of what would be expected in a post-bubble-era of any market and indicates U.S. businesses regaining their footing.