June jobs miss: US payrolls rise 57k as participation slips and revisions weigh on the labor market

The June 2026 US payrolls increased by 57,000, far below economists’ expectations of about 113,000, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% (its lowest in a year). April and May payrolls were revised downward by a combined 74,000, dampening momentum. Job gains came from professional and business services, social assistance, and healthcare, but leisure and hospitality lost 61,000 positions as seasonal hiring cooled. The labor-force participation rate also slipped to 61.5%, suggesting softer overall labor-market strength.