US economy adds record of 4.8 million jobs amidst COVID-19 spread

The US economy has added a record 4.8 million jobs in June showing a sign of nascent recovery in the country reeling under the coronavirus pandemic.

The Washington Post reported that a surge in new infections and a spate of new closing might affect the jobs recovery.

According to two key federal measurements, more than 20 million workers have lost their jobs in the last three and a half months into the pandemic.

The unemployment rate in June was 11.1 per cent, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, down from a peak of 14.7 per cent in April but still far above the 3.5 per cent level higher than in February.

Over 1.4 million Americans applied for unemployment insurance for the first time last week. While more than 19 million people are still receiving unemployment benefits, stubbornly high levels show that how many people are struggling to find or keep work.

The Congressional Budget Office on Thursday said the coronavirus pandemic gave such a shock to the labor market that it would not fully recover for more than 10 years.

President Trump touted the jobs that were added at a news conference called shortly after they were released, saying they were a sign that "America's economy is now roaring back to life as nobody has ever seen before."

"All of this incredible news is the result of historic actions my administration has taken," Trump said.

But his top aides acknowledged there was still a long way to go.

"There is still a lot of hardship and a lot of heartbreak in these numbers," US National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said. "I think we have a lot more work to do."

-ANI

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