Image Credentials: Image Title: US Economy Adds 115,000 Jobs in April as Unemployment Holds Steady at 4.3%. Source: (chatgpt.com) Date: April 2026. Attribution: This image was created using AI-generated imagery (chatgpt.com) and does not depict a real-world scene.
By Open Chronicle with agencies
The United States economy added 115,000 jobs in April, surpassing market expectations, while the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3%, according to new figures released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Economists had expected nonfarm payroll growth of around 65,000 jobs for the month, making the latest figures stronger than anticipated despite signs of slowing momentum in parts of the labor market.
The number of unemployed Americans remained largely unchanged at 7.4 million.
The labor force participation rate stood at 61.8%, while the employment-population ratio remained at 59.1%.
Health Care and Logistics Lead Hiring
Several sectors recorded notable job gains during April, led by health care, transportation and warehousing, and retail trade.
Health care added 37,000 positions, driven primarily by growth in nursing facilities, residential care services, and home health care providers.
Transportation and warehousing employment increased by 30,000 jobs, largely due to hiring in courier and messenger services, which accounted for a 38,000-job rise within the sector.
Despite the monthly increase, transportation and warehousing employment remains significantly below its February 2025 peak, down by approximately 105,000 jobs overall.
Retail trade added 22,000 jobs, with gains concentrated in warehouse clubs, supercenters, general merchandise stores, and building material retailers.
Federal Government Employment Continues Decline
Federal government employment continued its downward trend in April, declining by 9,000 positions.
Since reaching a peak in October 2024, federal government employment has fallen by 348,000 jobs, representing an 11.5% decrease.
The decline reflects ongoing workforce reductions and restructuring efforts across multiple federal agencies.
Wages Continue to Rise
Average hourly earnings for private-sector employees rose by six cents in April, increasing 0.2% to $37.41 per hour.
Compared with a year earlier, wages were up 3.6%.
The average workweek for private-sector employees also edged slightly higher, rising by 0.1 hour to 34.3 hours.
Revisions to Previous Months
The labor report also included revisions to previous employment estimates.
February payroll data was revised downward by 23,000 jobs, showing a loss of 156,000 positions instead of the earlier estimate.
March employment figures were revised upward slightly to a gain of 185,000 jobs.
Combined revisions for February and March resulted in 16,000 fewer jobs than previously reported.
The latest figures suggest the U.S. labor market remains resilient despite broader economic uncertainty, elevated borrowing costs, and ongoing concerns over inflation and global trade tensions.