WASHINGTON, July 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. job growth beat experts' predictions in June, according to the data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nonfarm payrolls rose 147,000 month on month, beating forecasts of 110,000, according to the agency.

The jobless rate dropped to 4.1 percent, the lowest in four months, beating estimates of a slight rise to 4.3 percent.

The labor force participation rate slid to 62.3, the lowest level in roughly three years.

The number of people who had not sought employment over the past month increased by 234,000 to 1.8 million individuals. ■