The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the country added 4.8 million jobs in June, including 7,500 in the legal sector, but experts are wary as to whether the numbers accurately reflect the true status of the job market. 

The overall unemployment rate fell to 11.1%, according to BLS numbers, down from a high of 14.7% in April. While an improvement, the rate is still the highest of the post-World War II era and likely to get worse before it gets better. 

The legal sector, inclusive of attorneys, legal secretaries, paralegals and others who make their living in the law, added 7,500 jobs in June, up from about 3,200 additions in May after hemorrhaging over 60,000 jobs in April. 

Total employment in the legal vertical sits at 1,106,800, up from 1,099,300 in May and down from 1,148,600 in June 2019, according to the BLS report. 

While the addition of jobs is a welcome sight, the numbers belie a recent trend of explosions in virus infections in the U.S. South and Southwest that threaten those gains.

The BLS survey is conducted mid-month, meaning the spike in U.S. COVID-19 cases in late June was not reflected in the current numbers. 

The Labor Department released more up-to-date numbers Thursday, showing that 1.4 million more Americans filed unemployment claims last week, and more than 800,000 filed for benefits under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. 

While the Northeast has progressively been driving down its infection count, many populous states that took fewer precautions and opened up their economies early are feeling the effects of that decision.

California, Texas and Florida, the three most populous states, have all been dealing with recent surges in COVID-19 cases, likely leading to more layoffs and stunting any overall economic recovery in the coming months.  

Notably, the pandemic-fueled job losses have hit non-white workers significantly harder than their white brethren. Unemployment for Black workers sits at 15.4%, Hispanic workers at 14.5% and Asian Americans at 13.8%. The unemployment rate for white workers is at 10.1%. 

Issues of racial equality have been at the forefront of American's attention the past few weeks, and data supporting the calls for change continues to roll in around policing, economic opportunity and justice. 

Notable points:

  • The unemployment rate is up seven percentage points since February of this year, marking an additional 12 million people as unemployed.
  • Unemployed persons on temporary layoff decreased by 4.8 million in June to 10.6 million, following a decline of 2.7 million in May.
  • Labor force participation sits at 61.5%, 1.9% lower than February numbers.
  • Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry increased by 2.1 million, accounting for about two-fifths of the overall gains.
  • Professional and business services, under which category the legal profession falls, added 306,00 jobs in June, but is still 1.8 million below February numbers
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