The U.S. added jobs at a solid pace in July, reinforcing hopes about the economy

U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs in July, still marking a steady pace of growth. The data is likely to reinforce hopes about the economy amid rising expectations for a soft landing. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Hiring held steady last month, as U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs, a solid — if not spectacular — pace of growth.

The data was largely within analyst expectations, with the unemployment rate edging down to 3.5% in July.