The Conference Board’s US employment trends index rose in June to a reading of 129.11 from May’s downwardly revised reading of 128.47. The June reading is up 4.8% from the same month a year ago.  

“The growth in the employment trends index accelerated in Q2, suggesting strong job growth through the summer,” said Gad Levanon, managing director of macroeconomic and labor market research at The Conference Board. “The combination of solid job growth and nearly flat labor force growth should lower the unemployment rate to 5% by year end.”

Last Thursday, the US Department of Labor reported the US added 223,000 jobs in June. The number of temp jobs rose by 19,800.