US employers slowed hiring last month and added only 57,000 jobs, less than half the previous month’s total and a sign that companies still have a cautious economic outlook.The Labor Department said on Thursday that the unemployment rate declined to a low 4.2 per cent from 4.3 per cent in May, though the drop mostly occurred because many people out of work gave up looking and were no longer counted as unemployed.

Economists say June’s modest job gains point to a stagnant, low-hire labor market where people are continuing to have a hard time finding new jobs.

The US economy added far fewer jobs than expected last month, with just 57,000 added in June, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Thursday.

The economy fell short of expectations in June, adding 57,000 jobs, fewer than most economists had expected.