U.S. job growth misses expectations in July; unemployment rises to 4.3%

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in July, while the unemployment rate increased to 4.3%, which could heighten fears that the labor market is deteriorating and potentially making the economy vulnerable to a recession.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 114,000 jobs last month after rising by a downwardly revised 179,000 in June, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.