U.S. economy boosted by 163,000 more jobs, but unemployment rises slightly, new report
U.S. President Barack Obama noted that the jobs report means the economy has created 4.5 million new jobs in the last 29 months, and 1.1 million this year.
The U.S. economy added more jobs in July, but the number of Americans out of work increased to 8.3 percent, the Labor Department reported.
The Washington Post said monthly jobs figures released today offered both good and bad news.
On the one hand, more jobs were created, promising results after three consecutive months of disappointing job gains. But the rate of unemployment nevertheless rose from 8.2 percent to 8.3 percent, the Post reported.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney sought to capitalize on the rising unemployment rate, saying in a statement that the jump from 8.2% to 8.3% was a "hammer blow to struggling middle-class families," CNN reported.
"My plan will turn things around and bring the economy roaring back, with twelve million new jobs created by the end of my first term," Romney promised in a statement sent shortly after the July jobs report was released.
Fox News said that Obama responded to Romney's statement by saying that raising taxes on the middle class is "the last thing that we should be doing."
He noted that the jobs report means the economy has created 4.5 million new jobs in the last 29 months, and 1.1 million this year.
"But let's acknowledge we've still got too many folks out there who are looking for work," Obama said.