Leah Schnurr

U.S. companies hired more workers than expected in July, but continued weakness in the manufacturing sector pointed to sluggish economic growth.

Companies created the most jobs in nearly a year in November, adding to cautious optimism that the country's battered labor market is working its way toward healing.

U.S. private employers added more than 200,000 jobs in March while planned layoffs fell, underscoring expectations that momentum in the labor market will help underpin the economic recovery.

U.S. companies are dusting off their "help wanted " signs but the pipeline of new jobs is being filled at only a trickle.