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The US economy added 211,000 jobs in April, rebounding after an unexpectedly weak month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Economists had forecast that nonfarm payrolls rose by 190,000, according to Bloomberg. The gains in March were revised down by 19,000 jobs to 79,000.
The unemployment rate fell to 4.4%, the lowest since May 2007, suggesting that the economy was even closer to full employment - a situation in which most people who looked for a job found one. The U-6 unemployment rate, a broader measure that includes people who are working part-time for economic reasons, fell to 8.6%, the lowest since November 2007.
After two months of declines, the retail sector added 6,300 jobs. But the losses may not be over, as roughly 3,500 stores are expected to close over the next few months with retail giants like Macy's and JCPenney shuttering locations. Department stores, for example, shed 600 jobs even as the broader sector increased hiring.
Wage growth slowed last month, with average hourly earnings increasing by 2.5% year-on-year, down from 2.6%.