Inflation, rising interest rates and GDP contraction be darned – American employers haven’t cooled on hiring yet and there’s opportunity in that for promotional products distributors.

New data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the United States economy added 528,000 non-farm jobs in the private and public sectors in July, thereby recovering pandemic-era job losses. The unemployment rate fell to 3.5% – a roughly 50-year low only last experienced just before the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020.

July’s hiring gain outpaced the average of 388,000 jobs added over the prior four months, and also beat June, when employers added 398,000 positions to payrolls.

While some industry segments, including big tech, are reportedly laying workers off, other sectors are continuing to add positions – and looking to hire more. Promo pros can take note and potentially pursue sales opportunities with these industries.

For instance, leisure and hospitality added 96,000 jobs in July. Growth was especially strong – 74,000-plus positions – at food and drinking places. That’s potentially more employees who will need branded shirts, aprons, pens and more.

Meanwhile, the professional and business services sector was the second most avid hirer in July, adding 89,000 jobs. Growth was widespread within the industry, including gains in management of companies and enterprises (+13,000), architectural and engineering services (+13,000), management and technical consulting services (+12,000), and scientific research and development services (+10,000). As companies compete for talent and strive to retain the quality workers they have, promo pros can capitalize by providing these clients with welcome kits and branded gifts for employees.

Last month, healthcare employment shot up by 70,000 positions. The sector saw gains in ambulatory health care services (+47,000), hospitals (+13,000), and nursing and residential care facilities (+9,000). Nonetheless, BLS noted that overall healthcare employment remains below its pre-pandemic February 2020 level by 78,000 jobs, or 0.5%. Again, promo pros can help with recruitment and retention levels to help understaffed employers in the sector get back to full employment levels.

Elsewhere, the construction sector added 32,000 jobs in July, while manufacturing employment rose by 30,000 positions. In construction, specialty trade contractors may make decent prospects for promo distributors, as such employers accounted for most of the hiring (22,000 jobs).  Among manufacturers, makers of durable goods were the keenest hirers, adding 21,000 jobs, with gains seen at employers that included those specializing in semiconductors and electronic components (+4,000).

Notably, hiring in education – the top end-market for promo sales – increased by 27,000 positions in July. Still, employment levels remain far below pre-pandemic norms. BLS noted that employment in local government is 555,000 positions less than in February 2020, with the losses split between education and non-education components. Educational institutions want to hire and keep teachers/staff happy; promo professionals can devise creative solutions that help advance these initiatives.

Retail employment increased by 22,000 in July, although it has shown no net change since March, suggesting layoffs and/or quits have kept down total employment levels.

Data from Counselor’s 2022 State of the Industry report showed that the top markets for promo product sales in 2021 were, in order, education, healthcare, manufacturing/distribution, construction and retail.