US adds just 57,000 jobs in June as hiring loses momentum despite easing unemployment

US job creation significantly decelerated in June, with only 57,000 new positions added, a stark drop from May’s revised figure. While the unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.2%, the labor force participation rate also declined. Despite job gains in sectors like healthcare and professional services, leisure and hospitality saw a notable loss. Layoffs, however, remained subdued, indicating a stable, albeit slower, labor market.