Employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs amid strain from war

The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% because 264,000 Americans left the labor force, while hiring slowed amid Gulf conflict pressures and productivity gains. WASHINGTON — U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month, and Labor Department revisions shaved 103,000 jobs off payrolls in May and June. The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1% only because Americans left the job market. But Americans who have lost their jobs — or are seeking to bust into the job market for the first time — are struggling to catch a break. Tthe United States doesn’t need as many jobs as it used to keep the unemployment rate from rising.