The U.S. added 147,000 jobs in June, relieving some concerns of a workforce slowdown

The U.S. added 147,000 jobs in June, soundly beating estimates and offering a welcome sign that the economy remains in relatively solid shape

The U.S. added 147,000 jobs in June, soundly beating estimates and offering a welcome sign that the economy remains in relatively solid shape.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, from 4.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. The job gains for April and May were revised up by a combined 16,000.

June's increases were led by roles in state and local government education, which added 63,500 positions, with state and local roles overall accounting for half of all job gains for the month. Health care and social assistance added another 58,600, while leisure and hospitality grew by 20,000 and construction gained 15,000.

Employment declined in the federal government, professional services and manufacturing.

Yet there are also signs that it remains difficult for those who've been out of work to land a job. The number of long-term unemployed people increased by 190,000 to 1.6 million, largely offsetting a decrease in the prior month.