U.S. economy added 315,000 jobs in August as companies keep up hiring pace

Nonfarm payrolls rose solidly in August amid an otherwise slowing economy, while the unemployment rate ticked higher as more workers rejoined the labor force.

Nonfarm payrolls rose solidly in August amid an otherwise slowing economy, while the unemployment rate ticked higher as more workers rejoined the labor force, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

The economy added 315,000 jobs for the month, just below the Dow Jones estimate of 318,000. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7%, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than expectations.

Wages continued to rise, though slightly less than expectations. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% for the month and 5.2% from a year ago, both 0.1 percentage points below estimates.

Nevertheless, the numbers still pose a quandary for a Federal Reserve trying to get inflation under control.

Those payroll and wage gains came amid soaring inflation and concerns over a slowing economy that posted negative GDP numbers in the first two quarters of the year, generally considered a telltale sign of recession.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/august-2022-jobs-report-rcna46031

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