CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON – U.S. hiring was likely sluggish in July for a fourth straight month, held back by slower economic growth and an uncertain outlook.
Analysts forecast that employers added 100,000 jobs last month, according to a survey by FactSet. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 8.2 percent for the third straight month.
The Labor Department will report on July hiring and unemployment trends at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Friday.
Hiring was robust at the start of the year, but then slowed sharply in the spring and early summer. Employers added an average of 75,000 jobs per month from April through June, a third of the average monthly gains from January through March.