US jobs data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday showed a record 7.9 million jobs were created in May, the strongest number since the start of the year.
But the jobs numbers have been revised down to 6.8 million, the lowest since March.
The BLS also said a record 4.6 million Americans were laid off in May.US President Donald Trump is trying to reduce the country’s debt burden as his administration seeks to boost economic growth and employment in his first year in office.
But he faces a tough balancing act as the economy continues to lag the rest of the world, including China.
The US unemployment rate rose to 5.5 per cent in May from 5.3 per cent a year earlier, according to the BLS data.
The rate of economic growth, which measures the ratio of gross domestic product to the population, also rose to 2.9 per cent from 2.8 per cent.
That was the lowest in 17 years and the worst for any month since December 1998, according, the data.