Job Growth Slows in July

 The U.S. added 157,000 jobs in July, less than the 190,000 jobs that economists had predicted.

Although the July hiring numbers came in below expectations, jobs gains have averaged 224,000 a month over the last three months. So far this year, job growth has averaged 215,000 per month, well above last year’s average of 182,000.

The unemployment rate for July was 4 percent, down one-tenth of a point from the previous month, indicating that the market is still in good standing for job-seekers. Wage growth was the same as in June, with a 2.7 percent gain year-over-year.