US nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 in July. The figure was below expectations for the creation of 80,000 new jobs during the same period.
Nonfarm payrolls had also declined by 20,000 in June. This marked two consecutive months of job losses.
Unemployment rate falls to 4.1%
The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in July, compared with 4.2% in June.
The number of unemployed people was estimated at approximately 6.9 million in July. In June, the number of unemployed people was recorded at 7.09 million.
Indicators calculated through two separate surveys
Employment and unemployment data are obtained from separate surveys. The employment survey examines the number of jobs at businesses, while the unemployment survey measures the status of people who are employed or looking for work in households.
Because the two surveys use different methodologies, employment and unemployment indicators can move in different directions during the same month.