Nonfarm payrolls fall 125,000 on census jobs
* Private hiring rises 83,000 after weak May
* Unemployment rate dips to 9.5 pct vs 9.7 pct in May
* Average workweek edges down to 34.1 hours
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Reuters) – U.S. employment fell for
the first this year in June as thousands of temporary census
jobs ended and private hiring grew less than expected, dealing
a blow to President Barack Obama who has identified job
creation as a key priority.
Nonfarm payrolls dropped 125,000, the largest decline
since October, as temporary census jobs fell 225,000, the Labor
Department said on Friday. However the unemployment rate fell
to 9.5 percent, the lowest level since July, as people left the
labor force. The report will add to worries the recovery from
the longest and deepest recession since the 1930s could be
faltering.
Analysts polled by Reuters had expected employment to fall
110,000 last month, with the jobless rate edging up to 9.8
percent from 9.7 percent in May.
The government revised data for April and May to show
25,000 more jobs created than earlier reported.
Private employment, considered a better measure of labor
market health, rose 83,000 in June, less than market
expectations for a 112,000 gain.