The US economy continued robust job creation in July, with the unemployment rate falling back to a 16-year low amid strong hiring in restaurants and health care, government data showed.
The healthy jobs report was another dose welcome news for an embattled White House facing a stalled policy agenda and historically low public approval ratings.
Despite a government rule barring officials from commenting on economic data untile one hour after release, President Donald Trump immediately hailed the report on Twitter:
“Excellent Jobs Numbers just released - and I have only just begun. Many job stifling regulations continue to fall. Movement back to USA!”
The world’s largest economy added 209,000 net new positions for the month, well above analyst forecasts but below June’s 231,000, the Labor Department reported.
The gain meant the unemployment rate ticked back down a tenth a point to 4.3%, the same as in May, when it reached its lowest level in 16 years, states the government data.
Published 05 August 2017, 17:16 IST