According to a new report from the Labor Department, the economy added 96,000 jobs in August, down from 141,000 in July. The number is lower than economists had forecast. The unemployment rate fell from 8.3% to 8.1%, a move that analysts say is due to discouraged workers leaving the labor market. Economists say that for the unemployment rate to significantly drop, at least 200,000 jobs would need to be created.
See "Hiring Slows in August, Adding to Pressure on Fed and Obama", Nelson D. Schwartz, The New York Times, September 6, 2012