The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.1 percent, according to a jobs report released Thursday by the Labor Department, reflecting the exit of workers from the labor market. The June unemployment rate hovers near a historically low level.

Employers across the U.S. added 147,000 jobs in June, with the labor market remaining resilient despite slowing economic growth this year. Job growth was stronger than expected in June. Payroll gains sailed past the 115,000 predicted by economists polled by financial data firm FactSet.

Hiring in the US defied expectations with 147,000 jobs added in June, according to the latest figures. The gain was much bigger than the 110,000 additions many analysts had predicted, with government and healthcare the sectors driving the rise. The unemployment rate declined to 4.1%, down from 4.2% in May, the Labor Department said.