U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased 115,000 in April; unemployment unchanged
by Joe Fisher · UPIMay 8 (UPI) -- Nonfarm payrolls in the United States increased more than expected in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.
Payrolls increased by 115,000 for the month but were down from the 185,000 nonfarm jobs added in March. For the 12 months ending in April there was little net change in payrolls.
The Dow Jones consensus estimate for new payrolls in April was 55,000.
The health care sector added 37,000 jobs. It has averaged about 32,000 jobs added monthly for the year. Nursing and residential care facilities added 15,000 jobs and home health services added 11,000.
Jobs in transportation and warehousing ticked up by 30,000. As a whole the sector is down by 105,000 jobs since February 2025.
Federal government employment continues to trend downward, losing 9,000 positions in April. It has decreased by 348,000 or 11.5% since October 2024.
The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3% in April. Average hourly earnings fell below expectations increasing by 0.2%. For the year ending in April, wages have increased by an average of 3.6%, below the rate of inflation.
Friday's report included revisions to past reports, including a revision down on February's nonfarm payrolls by 23,000. March's figure was revised up by 7,000.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La.,, speaks during an observance celebrating the 75th National Day of Prayer in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo