While the unemployment rate remained at 9.5%, total non-farm employment declined by 131,000 in July. The 71,000 new private sector jobs were more than off-set by the federal government ending 143,000 temporary census jobs. Details from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The New York Times has an interesting article on Talx ("talks") a new giant that handles an estimated 30% of unemployment claims contested by employers. Its not pretty.