US: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 201,000 in August vs. 191,000 expected

"Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 201,000 in August, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9 percent ," the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on Friday.

Key takeaways from the official publication

• The number of unemployed persons, at 6.2 million, changed little.
• Both the labor force participation rate, at 62.7 percent, and the employment-population ratio, at 60.3 percent, declined by 0.2 percentage point in August. 
• The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 34.5 hours in August.
• In August, average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by 10 cents to $27.16.
• Over the year, average hourly earnings have increased by 77 cents, or 2.9 percent.