US job growth moderates in August with 315,000 added while unemployment edges higher Unemployment rate unexpectedly rises to 3.7%, Labor Department says

• September 2, 2022
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U.S. job growth moderated in August from a torrid pace the previous month, but hiring remained solid despite growing headwinds from higher interest rates, scorching-hot inflation and mounting recession fears.

Employers added 315,000 jobs in August, the Labor Department said in its monthly payroll report released Friday, in line with the 300,000 jobs forecast by Refinitiv economists. That marks the lowest monthly gain since April 2021 and is a major decline from the 526,000 jump recorded in July.

The unemployment rate, meanwhile, unexpectedly ticked up to a six-month high of 3.7% as the labor force participation rate increased.

Wages also continued to rise, but came in lower than forecasts. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% for the month and 5.2% from the previous year, slightly below the respective 0.4% and 5.3% estimates from Refintiv.