By Jeffry Bartash
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April as hiring slacked off for the second straight month, the government reported Friday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected a 163,000 increase. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, dipped to 8.1% from 8.2%, as nearly 350,000 people dropped out of the labor force. The average work week was unchanged at 34.5 hours, while average hourly earnings rose 1 cent to $23.38. The increase in employment in March was revised up to 154,000 from an initial reading of 120,000. The gain in February was revised up to 259,000 from 240,000.
