U.S. added 372,000 jobs in June

The United States added 372,000 jobs in June, indicating that the nation’s labor market remains strong even while the Federal Reserve fights high inflation and economic growth slows.

The unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month, near a record low, the Department of Labor said in a statement.

U.S. labor secretary Marty Walsh noted that the “economy is transitioning into steady, stable job growth that benefits America’s workers,” with new federal spending on infrastructure and apprenticeship programs on the way.

“The private-sector economy has now more than fully recovered from its pandemic-era job losses — a major milestone that reflects both the success of the administration’s economic policies and the profound resilience of America’s businesses and workers,” Walsh said.

“The manufacturing sector is now fully recovered, and the hard-hit childcare services and nursing and residential care sectors are growing,” he added.

The manufacturing sector added 29,000 jobs in June, returning to February 2020 levels, the labor department said in its monthly report. Transportation and warehousing added 36,000 jobs, and are well above prepandemic levels.