The American labor market posted stronger-than-expected growth in April, with employers adding 177,000 jobs despite heightened economic uncertainty and ongoing reductions in the federal workforce.
The monthly report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, released Friday, surpassed forecasts by economists surveyed by Bloomberg and Dow Jones, who had projected gains of 133,000 to 135,000 jobs. Though the April figure marked a slight decline from March’s downwardly revised total of 185,000, it nevertheless reflected a resilient labor market amid shifting political and economic conditions.
The unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent, a level that has remained largely unchanged in recent months. The broader measure of unemployment—which includes those marginally attached to the labor force and people working part-time for economic reasons—edged down to 7.8 percent. Labor force participation ticked up to 62.6 percent, suggesting more Americans are seeking and securing work.
Friday’s report came as markets absorbed a wave of conflicting signals about the health of the U.S. economy. Equity futures rose following the release, with S&P 500 contracts gaining 0.8 percent, while yields on two-year Treasury notes climbed to 3.74 percent as investors bet that the solid jobs figure would prolong a higher-for-longer interest rate environment.
The positive employment data contrasted with this week’s report showing a quarterly contraction in gross domestic product, the first in three years. Economists have largely attributed that decline to a surge in imports ahead of President Donald J. Trump’s new round of tariffs, which took effect in early April. Domestic demand, by contrast, remains firm.
President Trump’s trade policy continues to evolve, with the administration imposing a blanket 10 percent tariff on imports at the start of April while placing a 90-day hold on further reciprocal duties pending negotiations. While White House officials have suggested that trade agreements may soon be reached with certain partners, no formal deals have been announced.
In the meantime, the Trump administration has pressed forward with an aggressive effort to reduce the size of the federal workforce, spearheaded by Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. According to Friday’s report, federal employment declined by 9,000 in April and by 26,000 since January. The total reduction may understate the scale of the cuts, as furloughed workers receiving severance pay are not counted as unemployed.
Private-sector hiring remained robust. The health care sector led job creation with 51,000 new positions, followed by gains in transportation and warehousing (29,000), financial activities (14,000), and social assistance. Analysts noted that these increases helped offset the decline in federal employment and offered evidence that private employers remain confident in consumer demand and economic fundamentals.
Despite geopolitical uncertainty and evolving trade dynamics, the latest data suggest that the labor market remains a source of strength for the U.S. economy—even as fiscal policy undergoes one of its most radical realignments in decades.
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