By Jeff Cox, Jun. 4, 2015, CNBC

The U.S. economy created 280,000 jobs in May, better than expected and likely confirming hopes that growth is back on track after a slow start to the year.

The headline unemployment rate increased slightly to 5.5 percent as the labor force participation rate ticked higher to 62.9 percent. ( Tweet This ) A separate measure that counts those working part time for economic reasons and the unemployed who have not looked for work in the past month held steady at 10.8 percent.

Wages also showed growth, rising 8 cents an hour, equating to an annualized increase of 2.3 percent.

Economists had been expecting a gain of 225,000 positions and the unemployment rate holding steady at 5.4 percent.