US Job Growth Slows Sharply in June with Only 57,000 Jobs Added, Missing Forecasts

WASHINGTON — U.S. job growth slowed significantly in June, with the economy adding just 57,000 jobs, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

The newly released figure represents less than half of the total jobs added during the month of May and falls well short of the 115,000 jobs that economic forecasters had originally predicted.

Despite the sharp deceleration in monthly hiring, the national unemployment rate managed a slight improvement, ticking down by one-tenth of a percentage point to land at 4.2 percent.

The latest labor statistics also indicated that average hourly earnings rose by 3.5 percent. However, this wage growth remains below the current rate of inflation, continuing to pressure the purchasing power of American workers.

The White House downplayed the weaker headline numbers, issuing a statement that pointed to specific sectors of industrial growth and attributed ongoing market resilience to administration policies.

"The June jobs report reinforces that the American labor market remains solid thanks to President Trump's economic agenda," a White House spokesperson said. "Manufacturing and factory construction jobs continued to grow in June, especially for durable goods like steel, aluminum, and other metals."