Washington: The US economy generated 209,000 new jobs in the month of July, making it sixth consecutive month when job gains have been above 200,000.
Though less than the 230,000 new jobs expected by economists, this is for the first time since 1997 that more than two lakh new jobs have been added to the US economy for six straight months.
"Total job growth exceeded 200,000 for the sixth straight month in July, the first time that has happened since 1997.
"This encouraging trend in the labor market is consistent with other recent economic indicators, including the strong second-quarter GDP growth reported on Wednesday," Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said.
To ensure this momentum can be sustained, the US President, Barack Obama, is pressing Congress to act to create jobs and expand opportunity, while simultaneously using his own executive authority to encourage investment in the US, boost the income of working families, and ensure safe and fair treatment of American workers, Furman said.
According to the latest employment report, both the unemployment rate (6.2 percent) and the number of unemployed persons (9.7 million) changed little in July.
Over the past 12 months, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons have declined by 1.1 percentage points and 1.7 million, respectively.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for adult women increased to 5.7 percent and the rate for blacks edged up to 11.4 percent in July, following declines for both groups in the prior month.
The rates for adult men (5.7 percent), teenagers (20.2 percent), whites (5.3 percent), and Hispanics (7.8 percent) showed little or no change in July.
The jobless rate for Asians was 4.5 percent (not seasonally adjusted), little changed from a year earlier, the report said.
The Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, said the report shows that the economy continues to strengthen.
However, there are still far too many middle class Nevadans and Americans struggling to find a job and make ends meet, he said.
"Congress must act to ensure a fair shot for all Americans by creating jobs and strengthening the middle class. But rather than focus on job creation, House Republicans have voted to sue the President.
"Senate Republicans have blocked votes to raise the minimum wage, ensure equal pay for women, and make college more affordable for middle class families," Reid said.
Recently, data had showed the US economy grew at 4.0 percent annual pace in the second quarter after shrinking at a 2.1 percent rate in the first quarter of the year.
