Post-hurricane repair work may have aided jobs gains for nonresidential specialty trade contractors, ABC economist says.

July's 4.9% rate edged up from 4.5% in previous month and in July 2016, Labor Dept. reports.

Industry's unemployment rate drops to 5.3% from April's 6.3% but is up from May 2016's 5.2%, BLS says.

Construction rate has been higher than year-earlier levels in three of four months this year.

March rate dips to 8.4% from February's 8.8% and March 2016's 8.7%, BLS says.

Specialty trade contractors lead jobs gains, adding 36,400.

January 9.4% rate up from year-earlier 8.5%, first year-over-year increase in more than six years.

December rate, not seasonally adjusted, increased to 7.4% from November's 5.7% but declined from year-earlier 7.5%.

November 5.7% rate is even with October's and improved from November 2015's 6.2%.