ANKARA
U.S. employment grew at a faster pace than expected in May, seeing robust growth, the U.S. Labor Department said in a report Friday.
Non-farm payrolls added 280,000 jobs last month, sharply higher than the 226,000 forecast by analysts.
While the unemployment rate rose to 5.5 percent in May from 5.4 percent in April, the report attributed this to a marked rise in labor force participation. The labor force participation rate rose to 62.9 percent, from 62.8 percent.
Average hourly wages also increased 2.3 percent from the previous year, the largest increase since August 2013.
The U.S. Federal Reserve has linked improved wage and employment data to an eventual decision to raise interest rates. Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen has said that interest rates will be raised sometime this year.
