Private jobs up 71,000 in July; Unemployment rate unchanged

WASHINGTON (AP) — Private employers added 71,000 jobs in July; unemployment rate unchanged at 9.5%.

Private employers added workers at a weak pace for the third straight month in July.

The Labor Department says companies added 71,000 jobs, far below the roughly 200,000 needed each month to reduce the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5%.

Overall, the economy lost 131,000 jobs last month, as 143,000 temporary census jobs ended.

The department also says businesses hired fewer workers in June than it previously estimated. July’s private sector job gains were revised down to 31,000 from 83,000. May was revised up slightly to show 51,000 net new jobs, from 33,000.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-08-06-employment-july_N.htm