96,000 Jobs Created In August, Unemployment Rate Edges Down To 8.1 Percent

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 96,000 jobs were added to the economy in August, dropping the unemployment rate to 8.1 percent. Economists had expected an increase of 125,000 jobs. The private sector added 103,000 jobs. The number of jobs added in June was revised down by 19,000, while July’s number was revised down by 22,000. The wider U-6 measure of underemployment edged down to 14.7 percent.