Economic Buzz: US unemployment rate unchanged to 4.2% in June

Total nonfarm payroll employment in the United States rose by 57,000 in June, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday. The figure, which came in sharply below expectations, followed a downward revision to a gain of 172,000 jobs in May.

Private education and health services added the most positions at 69,000, followed by the private service-providing sector at 39,000 and professional and business services at 36,000. The unemployment rate was little changed from May to 4.2%, with the number of unemployed falling to 7.1 million, while the labor force participation rate stood at 61.5%.

Average hourly earnings rose by 13 cents, or 0.3%, to $37.64. The average workweek remained unchanged at 34.3 hours.

Powered by Commodity Insights