US employers added 57,000 jobs in June, missing the 111,000 average gain of the prior three months and falling short of economist expectations, while the Labor Department revised its estimates for May and April, reducing the reported gains by a total of 74,000. The unemployment rate slipped to 4.2% as 720,000 people exited the labor force, with the count of unemployed persons remaining essentially unchanged. Private payroll data indicated 98,000 jobs added in June, driven largely by the health care sector, which contributed 22,000 jobs compared with its recent average of 38,000. The hospitality and leisure industries reported a decline of 61,000 jobs, reflecting weaker seasonal hiring despite the World Cup soccer matches held in the United States. Average hourly earnings rose 4.4% year‑over‑year for workers employed throughout the year, with finance workers experiencing a 5% increase. Dr Nela Richardson, ADP chief economist, said hiring has slowed because workers are taking longer to find jobs and because labor supply constraints persist in some industries, producing a net reduction in job creation. The Federal Reserve signaled continued emphasis on inflation at its July meeting, noting that price pressures remained elevated despite a recent diplomatic agreement between the United States and Iran. Fed projections released in June suggested that at least one rate increase could occur before year‑end, and the central bank has maintained its policy rate unchanged since December. The latest employment figures indicate a moderation in hiring while the labor market remains steady, and the Fed is expected to maintain its inflation‑focused stance at its next policy meeting.