US unemployment rate falls to an 18-year low

America's unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 per cent from 3.9 per cent, the lowest in 18 years, as 223,000 new jobs were added in the month of May, according to the latest figures released today.

The US Bureau of Labour Statistics reported that the unemployment rate edged down to 3.8 per cent in May, and the number of unemployed persons fell to 6.1 million.

Over the year, the unemployment rate was down by 0.5 percentage point and the number of unemployed persons fell by 772,000, the bureau said in its monthly jobs report.

The average hourly pay of private sector workers increased 2.7 per cent year-on-year, compared with 2.6 per cent in April.

However, the mainstream media accused President Donald Trump of breaking the protocol by tweeting about the monthly report about an hour before it was released.

"Looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning," Trump tweeted, which the mainstream media alleged was breaking of the protocol as no president in the past has spoken about it before the release of the monthly report.

Traditionally, the report is shared with president's chief economic advisor a day before it is released.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House.

The report comes as a good news for the president Trump, as it reflects an upswing in the American economy and unemployment going down to a record low.

"This is a good report that reflects Republicans' goals for tax reform: more jobs and higher wages. In addition to solid jobs gains, the big boost to investment in the first quarter of 2018 should lead to higher productivity meaning even bigger paychecks for our workers in the future," House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady said.

"It's a real shot in the arm to the story the US has the strongest economy among the major developed economies," Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust told 'The Wall Street Journal'.