U.S. Job Growth Stalls in June, Unemployment Ticks Down Slightly

The U.S. economy added just 57,000 jobs in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's less than half the number of jobs added in May, and well short of the 115,000 jobs forecasters had predicted.

Even though hiring slowed down, the unemployment rate actually dropped slightly, falling one-tenth of a point to 4.2 percent.

Paychecks grew too, though not by much. Hourly earnings rose 3.5 percent, but that increase still falls behind the rate of inflation, meaning workers' pay isn't quite keeping up with rising prices.

Asked about the numbers, a White House spokesperson defended the state of the job market, saying the report "reinforces that the American labor market remains solid thanks to President Trump's economic agenda." The spokesperson pointed to continued growth in manufacturing and factory construction jobs in June, especially in durable goods like steel, aluminum, and other metals.