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Employment costs rose less than estimated in the second quarter as worker pay raises held steady while benefit gains decelerated, suggesting inflation pressures remain muted.

Job openings unexpectedly cooled in May for a second month, signaling a pause in demand for workers ahead of a surge in June payrolls growth that indicates a still-robust American labor market.

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers sharply stepped up their hiring in June, adding a robust 224,000 jobs, an indication of the economy’s durability after more than a decade of expansion.

The U.S. labor market is showing further signs of a slowdown, according to new data from Glassdoor. Job openings in the U.S. increased just 1.4% from the same period last year, according to the employment site’s June 2019 Job Market Report.

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits declined the most in five weeks in another sign the jobs market remains strong, underscoring the outlook of Federal Reserve officials.

U.S. employers added the fewest workers in three months and wage gains cooled, suggesting broader economic weakness and boosting expectations for a Federal Reserve interest-rate cut as President Donald Trump’s trade policies weigh on growth.

Companies in May added the fewest U.S. workers in any month since 2010, suggesting a potential pullback in the labor market amid weakness in some parts of the economy.

Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly dipped to a five-week low, offering a fresh sign the job market remains historically tight amid other mixed signals on the economy.

The U.S. economy accelerated its rebound from a recent soft patch as unemployment unexpectedly fell to a fresh 49-year low amid strong hiring and cooler-than-projected wage gains, suggesting the hot labor market can extend its run.

U.S. employment costs held up at a steady pace in the first quarter as wages firmed, signaling some buildup of inflationary pressures that could still spur pickups in otherwise-muted price gauges.