The United States unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 4.3 percent, hitting a four-year high, according to a report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Friday.
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by just 22,000 in August, a sharp drop compared with the adjusted figure of 79,000 in July, and far lower than expected.
Previously, the economists estimated that the U.S. economy would add 75,000 jobs in August.
The report further confirmed the sluggish performance of the U.S. labor market. The data released by the Department of Labor on Aug 1 showed that the unemployment rate rose month over month in July, with employment growth in nonfarm sectors also falling short of market expectation.
The number of the new jobs added in the nonfarm sectors in May and June was also significantly adjusted downward compared with previously released data.
Economists attributed the rising unemployment rate to the sweeping tariff policies of the Trump administration and its measures to restrict immigration that reduces labor reserve.
US unemployment rate hits four-year high in August
US unemployment rate hits four-year high in August
US unemployment rate hits four-year high in August
