The US economy added 162,000 jobs in August, far exceeding economists' expectations of 55,000. Yet for people actually searching for work, the labour market can still feel unusually difficult.

Economists say the hiring rate, which measures new hires as a share of total employment, offers a different view of how easily workers can move into new jobs. That rate has remained close to its lowest level since the Great Recession.

Kory Kantenga, LinkedIn’s economist for the Americas, likens the labour market to a sink.

Water level signifies total employment in the labour market. New hires are........

© The News International