WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that 147,000 jobs were added in June, exceeding market expectations of just 110,000 jobs and beating expectations for the fourth consecutive month. June saw strong growth in health care, social assistance employment and individual and family services.

The overall unemployment rate declined slightly to 4.1% in June from an already strong 4.2% in May. The unemployment rate for women fell slightly to 3.6% from 3.9%. Labor force participation fell slightly to 62.3% from 62.4%. 

The drop in labor force participation is driven by a drop in women’s labor force participation falling from the previous month from 57.2% in May to 57% in June. Meanwhile, men’s labor force participation rose to 68.4% in June from 67.7% in May. Both men and women are still below pre-pandemic levels.

Carrie Sheffield, senior policy analyst at the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women, issued the following statement:

“America’s strong job growth is a positive sign for our economy. Washington has undertaken positive steps to continue to liberate the labor market through smart deregulation–especially President Trump’s powerful requirement that for every one regulation promulgated that 10 are removed.

“A drop in the labor force participation rate for women means female workers are uncertain about their chances to find work, and we look forward to the continued progress toward tax and regulatory reforms that will enable job and wage growth as witnessed following the 2017 Tax Cuts And Jobs Act.

“We look forward to seeing these efforts bear fruit and continue to improve job creation for American families in the months ahead.”

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Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.

Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) aims to educate the public about how government policies impact people’s opportunities for economic development and upward mobility.