The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 173,000 jobs were added to the economy in August, and the unemployment rate edged down to 5.1 percent, the lowest it has been in seven years, according to NPR. Job gains occurred in health care and social assistance and in financial activities. Manufacturing and mining lost jobs.
In August, the unemployment rate edged down to 5.1 percent, and the number of unemployed persons edged down to 8.0 million. Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons were down by 1.0 percentage point and 1.5 million, respectively.
June and July’s monthly figures were also revised and net total employment gains in those months were 44,000 higher than previously reported, Forbes reported.