The U.S. unemployment rate increased to a four-year high in July.
A Labor Department report issued Friday shows 5.7 percent of the U.S. workforce is unemployed, a slight increase from June.
Meanwhile the number of jobs fell by 51,000, marking the seventh straight month of losses.
White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the administration is "displeased" with the report. But she said the economy remains resilient.
The manufacturing and construction industries cut the most jobs. The two sectors have been hit hard by a housing slump and credit crisis.
Analysts say job cuts, combined with high energy costs, could impact consumer spending, which drives about two-thirds of the total economy.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Bloomberg.
