The US economy added 115,000 new jobs in April, exceeding expectations and demonstrating resilience in the labor market. The unemployment rate remained unchanged month over month, remining at 4.3 percent.
March showed a gain of 185,000 jobs, but April’s 115,000 was well ahead of predictions of 55,000. Businesses continue to hire as conditions remain stable and the upheaval from changing tariffs seems to be over for now. The labor market in the first four months of 2026 averaged an increase of 76,000 jobs compared to 42,000 in the same period last year. But stability does not mean optimism, as changes in government policy continue to cause anxiety and caution in hiring and firing.
The Fed was worried they may have to cut rates to support a sagging labor market, but that concern seems to have abated. The focus will now be on inflation data, with April’s consumer price index reporting later this week.