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US economy added 163,000 jobs in July, most in 5 months; unemployment rate rose to 8.3 pct.

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FILE - In this July 25, 2012, file photo, people looking for work talk at a Primerica job booth at a job fair in San Jose, Calif. U.S. hiring was likely sluggish in July for a fourth straight month, held back by slower economic growth and an uncertain outlook. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

WASHINGTON – U.S. employers added 163,000 jobs in July, a hopeful sign after three months of sluggish hiring.

The Labor Department says the unemployment rate rose to 8.3 per cent from 8.2 per cent in June.

July’s hiring was the best since February. Still, the economy has added an average of 151,000 jobs a month this year, roughly the same as last year’s pace. That’s not enough to satisfy the 12.8 million Americans who are unemployed.

The rate increased because the government uses two surveys: A survey of businesses showed job gains, but a survey of households showed fewer people had jobs. Economists say the business survey is more reliable.

High unemployment could hurt President Barack Obama’s re-election hopes. No president since World War II has faced re-election with unemployment over 8 per cent.

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