The Unemployment Rate Rises

WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate jumped to near a three-year high of 4.3% in July amid a significant slowdown in hiring, heightening fears the labor market was deteriorating and potentially making the economy vulnerable to a recession.

The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in July and hiring slowed, adding to signs of a broader downturn in what has been a solid U.S. economy.The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday that the U.S. added 114,000 jobs, down from 206,000 in June and well short of expectations. Economists were expecting the unemployment rate to have been unchanged from June's 4.1% reading.