Dismal Jobs Report: Only 69,000 Hires In May

Updated
new jobs in May 2012
new jobs in May 2012

By Christopher S. Rugaber


WASHINGTON -- U.S. employers created 69,000 jobs in May, the fewest in a year, and the unemployment rate ticked up. The dismal jobs figures could fan fears that the economy is sputtering.

The Labor Department also says the economy created far fewer jobs in the previous two months than first thought. It revised those figures down to show 49,000 fewer jobs created. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April, the first increase in 11 months.

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