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Employers add 69,000 jobs in May; jobless rate bumps higher

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — Employers added 69,000 jobs in May, less than half the number expected, while the jobless rate bumped up slightly, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Economists had expected payrolls to increase by 150,000.

The jobless rate rose to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April, while the number out of work rose to 12.7 million from 12.5 percent a month earlier. It was the first time in nearly a year that the jobless rate increased.

Numbers in the report are adjusted for seasonal factors that cause fluctuations in the job market.

More disappointing news: the Labor Department also downwardly revised the number of jobs added in March and April.

Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity will report county and state numbers on June 15.