Investing.com - U.S. non-farm private employment rose significantly more-than-expected in June, fuelling optimism over the strength of the U.S. labor market, official data showed on Thursday.
In a report, the U.S. Department of Labor said non-farm payrolls rose by a seasonally adjusted 288,000 last month, easily surpassing expectations for an increase of 212,000.
The previous month’s figure was revised up to a gain of 224,000 from a previously reported increase of 217,000.
The unemployment rate ticked down to a five-and-a-half year low of 6.1% from 6.3% in May. Analysts had expected the jobless rate to hold steady at 6.3% last month.
The report also said that average hourly earnings rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.2% last month, in line with expectations, after rising by 0.2% in May.
The data was released one day earlier than usual due to the July 4 U.S. Independence Day holiday on Friday.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar added to gains against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.24% to trade at 1.3626, compared to 1.3646 ahead of the data.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures pointed to a modestly higher open. The Dow indicated a gain of 0.1% at the open, the S&P 500 pointed to a rise of 0.1%, while the Nasdaq 100 indicated an increase of 0.1%.