Mixed signals from the U.S. Jobs Report

The U.S. jobs report was released today, giving investors mixed feelings. Certain numbers indicate a strong economy bouncing back from a tepid first quarter while other data foreshadows an economy trapped in the same low growth trajectory. Signs of a solid job market were aided by 223,000 new June jobs and a 0.2 percent decrease in unemployment that brought the jobless rate to 5.3 percent.

 The new jobs added in June mark the 13th time in the last 15 months the economy has added at least 200,000 per month. However the U.S. job market did take hits from reduced employment gains, disappointingly flat wages and a record low labor force participation number. Remember that a robust job market is one of the Fed's key indicators for raising rates and every jobs report from here on plays a significant role on when that hike will take place, notes  Voya Global Perspectives