Unemployment rate jumps to 5.5 percent in May

The government said the number of unemployed people grew by 861,000 in May — rising to 8.5 million. The over-the-month jump in unemployment reflected more workers losing their jobs as well as an increase in those coming into the job market — especially younger people — to look for work, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. A year ago, the number of unemployed stood at 6.9 million and the jobless rate was 4.5 percent.