US employers add 175K jobs, rate up to 7.6 pct.

US employers add 175K jobs, rate up to 7.6 pct.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy added 175,000 jobs in May, a gain that shows employers are hiring at a still-modest but steady pace despite government spending cuts and higher taxes. The unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent from 7.5 percent in April, the Labor Department said today. The rate increased because more people began looking for work, a healthy sign. About three-quarters found jobs. The rest added to the ranks of the unemployed.