US jobs data hits dollar The dollar sold off against other major currencies on Friday as jobs data in the US was significantly worse than predicted, increasing expectations of further monetary easing by the Federal Reserve. US non-payrolls data showed that just 69,000 jobs were created in the world's biggest economy in May, much less than the 150,000 expected, and extending the recent trend of weaker employment statistics. US unemployment climbed back up to 8.2 per cent from 8.1 per cent in the previous month. IN Currencies The US data proved to be positive for the euro, which had earlier sold off as figures showed the eurozone was still grappling with record levels of unemployment. Latest data indicated that eurozone unemployment stood at 11 per cent in April, matching the record high it reached in March. The single currency rose back above $1.24 against the US dollar shortly after the US jobs data were released. The euro lost nearly 7 per cent against the dollar in May, its worst monthly slide since September, as fears grew over Greece's continued membership of the single currency. Earlier on Friday, the euro hit fresh multi-decade lows against the Japanese yen, dropping 1 per cent to reach Y95.87, its lowest level since the end of 2000. The US dollar was weaker against every other leading currency following the payrolls data. Trading in the Japanese yen was particularly volatile on Friday, with traders and analysts on intervention watch, amid expectations the Bank of Japan could intervene in the markets to weaken the currency. The dollar was 0.2 per cent lower against the yen at Y78.19 after the jobs data. The pound had earlier continued its slide against the dollar, losing 0.6 per cent to reach $1.5306. This came as figures showed that UK manufacturing hit a three-year low in May, adding to fears over the health of the UK economy. Since reaching a multi-month high against the dollar at the end of April, the pound has slid more than 6 per cent. But the pound reversed direction after the US jobs data, rising 0.1 per cent on the day. The Australian dollar also eroded some of its losses after dropping 1.1 per cent against the US dollar to hit a low of $0.9613, its weakest level since October. Analysts said the outcome of the Irish referendum, with approval of the EU's new fiscal treaty widely expected, was unlikely to shift market sentiment. "Although initial reports suggest that the Irish referendum has delivered a "yes" vote, this was fully expected by the market and hence should not provide much in the way of support," said analysts at Morgan Stanley.