US economy adds just 160,000 jobs in April – further sign of a slowdown

Jobs figures were lower than predicted by economists with the percentage of the American labor force out of work holding steady at 5%

• Markets fall on shock US jobs report - business live

The US economy showed further signs of a slowdown on Friday as the US Department of Labor announced just 160,000 new jobs had been created in April, 40,000 fewer than had been expected. The US unemployment rate remained steady at 5%.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected the economy to add 202,000 jobs. February and March job gains were revised down, with the US economy now estimated to have added 19,000 jobs fewer than originally thought.

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