Illa9hington Post Economy added 280,000 jobs in May, while unemployment ticked up to 5.5 percent Martell Gerold applies for o job at the Bank of Americo booth at the Congressional Black Caucus for The People Jobs Initiative career fair in Los Angeles. By 'flan Q. Mui: June 5, 2015 The labor market continued its resurgence in May, the government reported Friday, with the U.S. economy adding 280,000 jobs. The jobs number beat analysts' expectations of 225,000 jobs. The unemployment rate went up a notch to 5.5 percent, but that increase was due to a rise in the number of people entering the workforce for the first time and looking for jobs. The data from the Labor Department indicate that the U.S. jobs recovery is continuing at a decent clip, a sign that the economy has underlying strength despite other recent data showing the recovery in a slump. The estimate of job growth in March was revised up from 85,000 to 119,000, while April's tally ticked down from 223,000 to 221,000 jobs added. "People have some confidence that they can get a job," Labor Secretary Tom Perez said in an interview. "These all point to an economy with the wind at its back." The U.S. economy added more than 200,000 jobs for the second straight month, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 5.5 percent. The solid jobs report suggests the economy is rebounding from a weak winter quarter. (Reuters) 1 age of 3 EFTA01100737