Job growth was higher than expected in June, according to a federal report Thursday that showed the labor market beating milder forecasts.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls increased by 147,000. Wall Street had been estimating a number closer to 110,000.
The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%.
There were job gains in state government and health care, while the federal government continued to shed positions as President Trump trimmed the workforce and spending in Washington.
Employment in state government increased by 47,000 — mostly in education, at 40,000 jobs — and local governments added 23,000 education jobs.
The federal government lost 7,000 jobs for the month, meaning federal employment is down 69,000 since a peak in January.
Job growth remained robust despite a private-company report one day earlier showing a contraction in hiring for June.
It also defied worries about the economy writ large, as